Vero Beach – Wednesday July 6, 2022: The parents of two babies left alone in a hotel room have been arrested after Indian River County sheriff’s deputies found them playing games at a nearby playroom. One child is 18 months old, the other is only 3 months old.

Last Saturday, July 2, a member of the Vero Beach Inn and Suites cleaning staff heard children crying inside one of the rooms. The staff member repeatedly knocked on the door but got no response. The housekeeper assumed that an adult was in the room taking care of the children.

Ten minutes later, the governess returns and still hears the crying of the children. The staff member entered the bedroom and found the 3 month old covered in pillows and the 18 month old lying on the bed, near the edge, with no clothes on. The sheriff’s office was called.

According to the arrest affidavit, deputies “located the parents” playing games at the Venetian Arcade on 20th Street, directly across from the Inn.

EMS also responded and medically cleared children who are now in the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Martina Shaw, 34, and Aaron Doby, 35, have been charged with two counts of criminal neglect of children. Both are residents of the 1500 block of 15th Circle SW in Vero Beach. As of Wednesday morning, they were in the county jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.