Lake Mary mother jailed after 12-year-old found alone at Universal CityWalk bar late Saturday night

Incident reported at CityWalk bar; mother later located at nearby club

A 33-year-old Lake Mary woman was arrested and booked into the Orange County Jail after deputies said her 12-year-old daughter was found alone and crying at a bar inside Universal CityWalk on Saturday night, March 7, 2026. The woman, identified as Amanda Laurel Thorpe, faces a child neglect charge stemming from the late-night incident in the resort’s entertainment district.

Deputies were dispatched to the CW Shoreline Bar at approximately 10:28 p.m. after a report of a missing juvenile. When they arrived, deputies said they found the child seated on a bar stool, visibly upset and crying. Investigators documented that witnesses alerted staff after realizing the child had been left without an accompanying adult, prompting a response that involved both venue staff and on-site security.

Deputies describe alleged sequence of events inside CityWalk

Investigators reported that the child told deputies her mother had been drinking before arriving at the bar. The investigation described an interaction in which an unidentified patron allegedly upset Thorpe, after which she wanted to move to another venue within CityWalk, the Red Coconut Club. The child, deputies said, wanted to return to the hotel room because she was tired.

Deputies alleged Thorpe responded with an obscene gesture and a verbal insult, then left the bar without her daughter. Universal security personnel later located Thorpe at the Red Coconut Club, where deputies said she was on the dance floor alone with an alcoholic beverage.

Deputies documented signs of impairment during their contact with Thorpe, including bloodshot eyes, swaying, an unsteady gait, and an odor of alcohol.

Investigators said Thorpe told deputies she believed her daughter was with her or had returned to the hotel room. Deputies also reported Thorpe made a statement indicating she was confused about why she would be jailed and that she had done this before.

What the charge means under Florida law

Under Florida law, child neglect generally involves a caregiver’s failure to provide supervision and care necessary to maintain a child’s physical or mental health. The statute provides for more serious penalties when neglect results in great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement; authorities have not alleged such injuries in this case.

Key facts investigators documented

• Location: CW Shoreline Bar at Universal CityWalk; mother later located at Red Coconut Club.
• Time: deputies responded around 10:28 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2026.
• Child’s condition: visibly upset and crying, seated alone at the bar.
• Criminal allegation: Thorpe left the child behind while going to another venue within CityWalk.

The case remains at the charging stage. Court records will determine any release conditions, future hearings, and whether prosecutors pursue additional allegations beyond the initial child neglect charge.