Florida Couple Charged After Leaving Teen on Busy Interstate

Wauchula, Florida — A couple is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly abandoning a 16-year-old boy on the side of Interstate 75. Bradley Leon Guerrero Santos, 36, and Roseanella Mendola Borja, 35, both from North Port, were arrested on October 3 and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, according to records from the Sarasota County jail.

The couple’s arrest follows a 911 call on October 1, which reported a teenage boy walking along the busy highway. According to a probable cause affidavit, the boy informed police that he was in a car with Santos, Borja, and his 8-year-old sibling when they suddenly stopped, instructed him to exit the vehicle, and handed him two bags filled with cash and guns.

As they drove along the interstate, the boy expressed his reluctance to leave Florida. He stated that the couple directed him to leave the vehicle. Santos has an additional charge for permitting a juvenile to possess a firearm.

Police who arrived at the couple’s home discovered it in disarray, with the doors wide open, suggesting a hasty departure. The relationship between the boy and the couple remains unclear. The case was highlighted further by the boy’s description of the couple’s strange behavior leading up to the incident.

Both Santos and Borja are being held in Sarasota County Jail on a $500,000 bond each. As of Thursday, it has not been confirmed if they have acquired legal representation.