The infant's father discovered the children on Saturday after seeing a social media post suggesting Belizaire was on the cruise. When he went to her apartment that evening, he heard children talking inside and saw a television on through the blinds, prompting him to call 911. Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue forced entry and found all four children hiding together in a bathroom with no adult present.
Belizaire had discussed childcare plans with family but the arrangements fell through. She told the infant's father the children would stay with their great-grandmother, but never brought them there. Her brother received a text from her Saturday asking him to check on the children. The Carnival Conquest departed PortMiami on September 25 for a three-night Bahamas sailing.
When the ship returned Monday, police were waiting at PortMiami. Belizaire was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and later released to North Miami Beach police. She now faces four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm and declined to provide a statement to authorities. The Florida Department of Children and Families became involved following the discovery.