Deputies: Tampa mom neglected child so she could buy drugs

TAMPA — After taking 25 Xanax pills, deputies said a Tampa woman couldn't remember where her 3-year-old daughter was, spawning a five-hour-long search that ended when the child was found safe with a family friend.

At about 5 p.m. on Saturday, deputies say Lisa Flores, 32, left her daughter in her apartment, 1804 143rd Ave., while she went to buy pills, according to an arrest affidavit.

It's not clear whether anyone was at her apartment with the child at that time. But deputies said one of Flores' friends was there later that day and was worried about the child.

The friend told deputies Flores left the apartment again Saturday at 9 p.m. after smoking marijuana, and when Flores didn't return the friend didn't want to leave 3-year-old Iveliz "Ivy" Flores alone. He said he left the apartment with Ivy at about 10:30 p.m.

Flores didn't return until sometime Sunday, the affidavit states, and couldn't remember where her daughter was or if she took her anywhere

The child was reported missing at about 6 p.m.

Deputies searched a radius of a mile around the home before Ivy was returned to her home by the friend at 10:20 p.m.

Flores was arrested on charges of child neglect and violating probation for a previous grand theft arrest. She was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail, where she remains without bail.

This is Flores' sixth arrest in Hillsborough County, with previous charges including grand theft, petty theft, bringing contraband into a correctional facility, shoplifting, drug trafficking and driving under the influence.

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