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A Florida woman was arrested Sunday night after deputies say they found her asleep behind the wheel with three small children in the backseat and a quantity of suspected methamphetamine inside the vehicle parked outside a Palatka church. The case has prompted an investigation into potential child neglect and the presence of illegal drugs near a local place of worship.
What deputies reported finding
Putnam County deputies who returned to Midway Baptist Church shortly after responding to a different call discovered a black sedan still parked along Bardin Road. When officers approached, the driver was unresponsive in the front seat and officers observed signs she had been sleeping for some time.
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In the rear of the car, three children — described in court records as between 7 months and 4 years old — were also asleep. Investigators noted blankets hung between the front and back seats that impeded a direct view of the rear passengers from the driver’s position.
Officers say a search of the vehicle turned up a magnetic box on the front passenger seat containing a glass pipe and small baggies of a white crystalline substance. A field test produced a presumptive positive for methamphetamine, with the total amount reported at about 28.2 grams. Deputies also found marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Charges, custody and processing
Police charged 33-year-old Amanda Lynn Burkes with several offenses, including multiple counts of child neglect, trafficking in amphetamines, possession of a vehicle for drug activity, possession of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a place of worship, marijuana possession, and possession of drug equipment, according to court records.
After the arrest, the Department of Children and Families was notified and the children were placed with their grandmother. Burkes was booked into the Putnam County Jail and initially held without bond. A judge later set bond at $73,500 during an appearance Tuesday; her next court date was not immediately available in court filings.
- Children involved: Three, ages roughly 7 months to 4 years
- Suspected narcotics: ~28.2 grams presumptive methamphetamine; marijuana also found
- Primary charges: trafficking in amphetamines, three counts of child neglect, possession within 1,000 feet of a place of worship
- Bond set: $73,500
Statements and evidence
Body-worn camera footage released by the sheriff’s office shows deputies laying the items discovered on the car’s hood. In a recorded interview, Burkes acknowledged the marijuana was hers but denied knowledge of other contraband, suggesting a neighbor she named only as “Eddie” might have put the box in her vehicle earlier that day. She also told investigators she had been driving to a relative’s home and had stopped for food prior to the incident, but said she could not recall how long she and the children had been asleep roadside.
Why this matters now
The case highlights two immediate community concerns: the safety of very young children left unattended in a vehicle and the legal implications of trafficking-level drug amounts parked near a public church. Prosecutors may treat the proximity to a place of worship as an aggravating factor under state law, which can carry enhanced penalties.
For residents and parents, the episode underscores risks tied to driving while impaired or leaving children in unsecured situations. For law enforcement and child welfare officials, it is a reminder of the overlapping duties to investigate criminal activity and to act quickly to protect minors.
Court records and the sheriff’s office provided the details summarized here. The investigation remains active and further proceedings in the case are expected to produce additional information.
