World's Worst Babysitters Leave 9-Month-Old At Long Island Casino

ISLANDIA, NY – Three people, including two teens, were arrested after they left a 9-month-old baby at a Long Island casino Tuesday, police said. The trio was supposed to be babysitting the child, but a dispute with the baby's mother quickly sent things haywire.

Let's take it from the start (note this is all according to Suffolk Police):

A 21-year-old woman hired a babysitter, who claimed to be 18 years old, from Sittercity.com. The babysitter, it turned out, was actually 14. At some point Tuesday, the baby was placed in the custody of the teen and apparently her 16-year-old boyfriend and mother as well.

When the baby’s mother failed to arrive to pick up the child at a designated time, the caregivers called police at about 6:40 p.m. Fourth Precinct patrol officers responded to the home of the 14-year-old and her mother, 44-year-old Dejuana Stewart, of Johnson Avenue in Ronkonkoma. The babysitters told police that they had resolved the issue and arranged to meet the baby’s mother.

The mugshot of Dejuana Stewart provided by Suffolk Police

They agreed to meet the mother at Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino located at 3635 Express Drive North, but after a dispute regarding pickup arrangements and payment, the three caregivers decided to leave the child at the casino when the baby’s mother failed to arrive.

Watch: World's Worst Babysitters Leave 9-Month-Old At Long Island Casino

The 16-year-old teen, of Brooklyn, left the child in a carrier on an outside bench and walked toward the car. He then returned to the bench, picked up the child and took the baby inside to a security member. The teen told security personnel that he found the child on a bench outside. He then left in the car with his girlfriend and his girlfriend’s mother.

After reviewing surveillance, Fourth Precinct officers recognized the 16-year-old from the previous call they had responded to on Johnson Avenue. Officers returned to that location and arrested the three caregivers.

Stewart and the two juveniles are charged with endangering the welfare of a child. They are scheduled to be arraigned at a later date at First District Court in Central Islip. Suffolk County Child Protective Services was notified of the incident.

Photo by Nick Ares/Flickr/CreativeCommons