Florida Mother and Grandmother Arrested After Five-Year-Old Twins Found Locked in Shed Without Food or Water

Sabine Thrift, 59, faces child neglect charges, while Tamara Stoiber, 37, is charged with child neglect and false imprisonment. (Alachua County Sheriff's Office

A mother and grandmother in Alachua County, Florida, are facing serious child neglect charges after two five-year-old twin girls were found locked in a shed without food, water, electricity, or proper ventilation in the early hours of June 28.

Deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office responded to a disturbing call around 3 a.m. reporting that the young girls had been discovered alone inside a shed in Waldo. The door was blocked with a brick, and inside the dark, stifling space, deputies found the twins dirty, disheveled, and appearing malnourished. A large hunting knife was found within reach of the children, raising further concerns about their safety.

Authorities said the shed had no lighting and no way for air to circulate, creating a potentially life-threatening environment. “These young girls were probably extremely scared and frightened,” said Captain Chris Sims of the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. “It’s dark. It is very early — between midnight and 3:30 in the morning. There are no lights on the outside of this shed either.”

A brick was placed in front of the shed doors, according to deputies

Sims warned of the potential for tragedy had the girls tried to escape in search of help. “Heaven forbid these young girls walk out of the shed looking for help — they could have wandered onto a major highway, and catastrophic results would probably take place.”

Investigators determined that the girls’ mother, 37-year-old Tamara Stoiber, left them in the care of their grandmother, 59-year-old Sabine Thrift, under the pretense of running a quick errand. However, Stoiber did not return for several hours. Authorities believe Thrift had no intention of watching the children and instead confined them to the shed.

Thrift has been charged with two counts of child neglect and is being held on a $20,000 bond. Stoiber faces charges of child neglect and false imprisonment, with her bond set at $70,000.

The case is currently under investigation, and child protective services have been notified to ensure the ongoing safety and well-being of the twins.