Top healthcare executive and her husband are charged for leaving six-month-old baby alone on the beach

A top healthcare executive and her husband have been charged after they allegedly abandoned their six-month-old baby on a Florida beach for nearly an hour. Sara, 37, and Brian Wilks were arrested on October 10 after deputies with the Walton County Sheriff's Office responded to Miramar Beach over reports of a baby being left unattended. When police arrived at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, they found the child being cared for by Good Samaritans, one of whom was seen holding the infant in a photo. While authorities waited for paramedics to arrive, the couple, who live in a $970,000 home in Houston Texas, made their way back to the spot and confessed to leaving their child there. They both admitted they placed the baby under a tent for a nap, left with three other kids, went on a walk and 'lost track of time,' according to authorities. Sara, a regional president for US Heart and Vascular, and her husband, did not bring their phones with them while they were away from their child, surveillance footage showed. The baby's vitals were normal and she was not in distress, police said. The Florida Department of Children and Families immediately responded to the scene and their other children were placed in state custody until relatives from Texas could arrive. The Wilks' were both charged with child neglect without great bodily harm. The couple posted a $1,000 bond the next day, according to court records obtained by the Daily Mail. Major Dustin Cosson with the Walton County Sheriff's Office said the amount of time they left their child was 'way longer than what would be reasonable.' He said he understands that babies are on a napping schedule, but that does not mean parents should leave them alone when they do so. 'That's all fine and dandy, but you don't just leave a baby at a house and then leave and go off to the store,' Cosson told ABC13. 'The baby could roll over and suffocate itself, or the wind could blow a towel over its face. There's no telling what could have happened.' He further emphasized that although beaches in the Sunshine State are family-friendly, parents still need to use common sense and remain vigilant. 'Yes, it's a bubble, but that doesn't mean as you cross over the county line or over the state line into Florida that we can just leave your common sense behind,' he said. 'It still means you have to do the best for your children.' Although deputies do not believe the Wilks' acted maliciously, Cosson believes the option to leave their baby daughter alone should see them face criminal charges. Sara was named as part of Cardiovascular Business's 'Forty Under 40 Class of 2025' in April. Sara, who appears to go by her maiden name Sommers professionally, holds an MBA and has 'created a more cost-effective and streamlined experience for patients' at US Heart and Vascular (USHV), according to Cardiovascular Business. The company is a national provider of support services for independent cardiovascular physician practices. Sara's been described as someone who 'not only improved the quality of care' for patients, but made sure to do so in a timely manner, according to the outlet. The Daily Mail contacted US Heart and Vascular and the Wilks' attorney for comment.