Miami Beach, Fla. — A 34-year-old woman, Miriam Shvetz, has been arrested on two counts of child neglect after police discovered her two young children living in squalid conditions inside a Mid-Beach apartment.
The incident began when Shvetz’s ex-husband dropped off their 5- and 9-year-old children at the Ocean 36 North Condominium on Collins Avenue around noon. The children told him their mother was not home, despite prior confirmation that she would be there. Police were called to the scene and heard one of the children crying while speaking to Shvetz on a video call. When officers questioned her, she explained that she had left the apartment because she “had things to do.”
Upon entering the unit, officers were met with an overwhelming stench of rotting food and urine. The apartment was in a state of severe disrepair—walls and floors were coated in grime, the kitchen was filled with old food and dirty dishes, and flies and other insects were crawling throughout. The bathroom was especially unsanitary, with a toilet clogged with old waste and feces also found on the floor.
Further investigation revealed that the children were not enrolled in school. When asked about it, Shvetz admitted she had no plans to enroll them. Their father has since taken action to ensure they are registered.
This is not the first time Shvetz has been involved with authorities—police have responded to the residence at least four times since 2023 in relation to a custody dispute.
She is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with bond set at $5,000.
