Parents accused of leaving 3 young children alone in running car at Lee County truck stop

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Lee County deputies say employees at the Pilot Travel Center off I-75 and Luckett Road called 911 on Wednesday after reportedly seeing three young children, including a baby, left alone in a pickup truck with the engine running while their parents showered inside the rest stop.

Steven Tully and Desirea Wallace were both arrested for child neglect.

Deputies said the parents, who live in Lehigh Acres, had paid to take a shower at the truck stop and were found in the shower room together.

According to the arrest report, the children were reportedly in the truck by themselves for almost 30 minutes, based on the time listed on the receipt and when deputies found them.

Deputies say an employee saw a similar incident on March 22, where the children were said to have been left unsupervised for about 10 minutes, but she did not report it as the parents returned to the truck.

Previous court records show Tully has been arrested twice before for reportedly choking Wallace in December in a domestic battery situation. That case has since been dropped, and Tully was released from jail earlier this month. An arrest report states Tully and Wallace have been in a relationship for six years.

Deputies said a baby in the car needed a new diaper, and the Department of Children and Families was contacted.

Gulf Coast News is working to determine the current whereabouts of the children.

Off-camera, drivers expressed that this situation should not have occurred.

Deputies remind the public that children under 6 cannot be left alone in any car that is turned on.

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