North Port, FL – A Florida couple has been arrested and charged after allegedly abandoning a teenage boy along a busy highway with bags containing guns and cash, before driving away and telling him to “take care of the house.”
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by police, the bizarre and alarming incident unfolded on October 1 when officers responded to a 911 call about a teenage boy walking alone on Interstate 75 in Sarasota County.
Teen Found Walking Along I-75
The boy, whose name has not been released due to his age, told responding officers that he had been riding in a 2006 Toyota 4Runner with Bradley Leon Guerrero Santos, 36, and Roseanella Mendola Borja, 35, along with his 8-year-old sibling, when the couple suddenly pulled over.
According to the affidavit, Santos and Borja allegedly ordered the teen to get out of the vehicle, handed him two bags containing cash and two handguns, and told him he was on his own. Moments later, they sped away, leaving him stranded on the side of the highway.
Authorities said the boy appeared shaken but unharmed. Police transported him back to the couple’s residence in North Port, where they discovered a chaotic scene — doors left open, belongings scattered, and the home in complete disarray, the affidavit stated.
Parents Arrested and Charged
Following an investigation, both Santos and Borja were arrested in Wauchula on October 3 and booked into the Sarasota County Jail. They face charges of neglect of a child without great bodily harm, and Santos faces an additional count of allowing a juvenile to possess a firearm, according to jail records.
As of Thursday, both remain in custody on $500,000 bond each.
Authorities have not released information clarifying the relationship between the boy and the couple, though police confirmed that an 8-year-old child connected to the case is now in protective care.
“Frantic” Departure and Strange Behavior
In his account to police, the teenage boy said he came home from school on the day of the incident to find Santos and Borja “frantically packing” duffel bags and tossing clothes into their vehicle. He described their behavior as erratic, noting that one of them had been acting “strange lately.”
The teen further told officers that the couple mentioned they were planning to leave Florida and go to Guam or Idaho. When he protested and said he didn’t want to leave the state, they allegedly became agitated, eventually pulling over on the highway and abandoning him there.
Ongoing Investigation
Law enforcement officials have not disclosed a possible motive behind the couple’s actions. Investigators are still working to determine why the couple left the state, how long the plan had been in motion, and what prompted them to involve the teen in such a dangerous situation.
Authorities have also not confirmed whether the two firearms recovered were legally owned or whether any additional weapons were found during searches of the home or vehicle.
Court documents show that neither Santos nor Borja has yet entered a plea, and it remains unclear whether they have retained legal representation.
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Community and Legal Response
Child neglect cases involving firearms are treated with high severity in Florida. Under state law, neglect of a child without great bodily harm is a third-degree felony, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to five years and significant fines. If investigators determine that the guns were accessible to minors or used in the commission of another crime, additional charges could follow.
Local residents expressed disbelief at the alleged abandonment. One neighbor told reporters, “It’s terrifying to think anyone could leave a child like that — especially on a highway with guns involved. It’s just unthinkable.”
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Children and Families are both involved in the ongoing investigation to ensure the safety and well-being of the children.
Authorities are asking anyone with additional details about Santos, Borja, or their movements before October 1 to contact the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
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