Mother accused of chaining 13-year-old daughter to fence, leaving her outside in heat

HIALEAH, Fla. (WFOR) - Police in Florida allege a mother chained her 13-year-old daughter to a fence outside a relative’s home and left her in the summer heat without food, water or shade.

Yashira Marie Maldonado, 34, is facing child abuse and child neglect charges after Hialeah police say she chained her 13-year-old daughter to a fence outside the teenager’s great-grandmother’s house.

Police say Maldonado and her daughter arrived at the home before 10 a.m. Saturday. The mother then allegedly wrapped a metal chain around her daughter’s waist and tied the other end to the house’s fence, restricting her from moving around, according to an arrest report.

The report alleges Maldonado left her daughter outside, where she had no cover from the sun and no food or water, and drove away. The teen was reportedly left with a clear bookbag, some clothing and her medication.

The victim’s great-grandmother said that at about 9:10 a.m., she got a text message from Maldonado stating, “I got fired from my job.”

Maldonado is out on bond. A judge has ordered her to stay away from her daughter.