MIAMI – A homeless South Florida mother was arrested Tuesday at Miami International Airport after deputies said she violated a court-ordered custody agreement and attempted to fly out of state with her two young children, who had been reported missing.
Investigators said Shandrell Deon Willis, 36, was taken into custody by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office around 1:30 p.m.
Jail records show she is facing two counts each of interference with parental custody and removing a child from the state, along with one count of violating a domestic violence injunction.
The children — identified by deputies as 6-year-old Ivy Mitchell and 10-year-old Devin Mitchell Jr. — were the subjects of a missing child alert after they said Willis took them from their father’s home in the Windmill Farms area of Princeton in southwest Miami-Dade on Monday morning.
According to an arrest report, Willis arrived at the father’s residence sometime between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m., packed clothing for both children, and left with them without permission, violating an injunction that had been in place since February.
The report stated that the father has full custody of the children, except for four hours every other Saturday, which is supervised by his brother.
Authorities said the injunction, which prohibits Willis from being within 500 feet of the father or the children outside of limited supervised visits, was still active at the time of the alleged incident.
When Willis and the children could not be reached, deputies said family members contacted authorities, and a missing child alert was issued.
The following day, investigators said they located Ivy, Devin and their half-sibling at the airport, along with Willis’ teenage daughter from a separate relationship.
The children told officers they had been taken to a hotel and were planning to fly to Georgia or Texas, authorities said.
Investigators say the group had not yet boarded a plane because of issues purchasing tickets and were searching for a cheaper flight.
After being read her Miranda rights, Willis initially denied knowledge of the injunction but later acknowledged it, according to the report. She refused to answer further questions and requested an attorney.
Deputies said she was arrested without incident and transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
They said no injuries were reported and the children were safely returned to their father.
Willis remained at TGK Wednesday afternoon, with her bond was listed as “to be set.”
