PARENTS CHARGED AFTER LEAVING TODDLER UNATTENDED IN HOTEL ROOM

Grasonville, MD - Authorities have charged two Maryland parents with reckless endangerment and neglect of a minor after they allegedly left their one-year-old child unattended in a hotel room while they visited a nearby bar.

On June 16, 2025, at approximately 9:33 PM, deputies from the Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of child neglect at the Hilton Garden Inn in Grasonville, Maryland. A hotel employee informed deputies that James Grant, from Laurel, MD, and Carrie Zauner, from Columbia, MD, had left their child alone in the hotel room while they went to The Jetty Restaurant and Dock Bar.

Deputies found Grant and Zauner at the bar, where they were seen consuming alcoholic beverages. The couple admitted to leaving their child unattended in the hotel room during a conversation with the authorities. After escorting the parents back to their hotel room, deputies conducted a welfare check and found the child asleep and alone.

A family member was contacted to take custody of the child, ensuring immediate safety. Following this check, Grant and Zauner were arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and neglect of a minor.

Sheriff Gary Hofmann commented on the situation, stating, "It is beyond imagination that any parent would place their personal interests above the safety and wellbeing of their child. I commend hotel management for promptly alerting authorities and our deputies for responding swiftly and appropriately to ensure the child's safety. The wellbeing of our most vulnerable will always remain a top priority."

Disclaimer: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.