The court restriction followed allegations that the 13-year-old girl was chained outside without food, water or shade.
HIALEAH, Fla. — A Hialeah woman accused of leaving her 13-year-old daughter chained to a fence has been ordered to have no contact with the teenager as she faces child abuse and child neglect charges.
Yashira Marie Maldonado, 34, was released on bond after her arrest in connection with the July 11 incident, according to court information reported by local news organizations. The no-contact order separates Maldonado from her daughter while prosecutors pursue the case. Authorities have not publicly identified the teenager or disclosed who is caring for her.
Hialeah police said officers found the girl restrained outside a relative’s home on West 63rd Street. Investigators said Maldonado had wrapped a metal chain around the teenager’s waist, attached it to a fence and driven away about an hour before officers arrived.
The girl had a clear backpack containing clothing and medication, according to the arrest report. Police said she had been left without food, water or cover from the sun. Officers described her as being in good health when they found her, though authorities have not released further information about her condition.
The encounter was captured by surveillance video, police said. Investigators reported that the footage showed Maldonado arriving in a beige Toyota Camry shortly after 9 a.m., securing her daughter to the fence and leaving the property.
A woman inside the home discovered the teenager after receiving a message from Maldonado, according to the arrest report. The woman tried to remove the chain but could not release the girl. She then contacted relatives, including Maldonado’s mother.
Police said Maldonado’s mother went to her daughter’s apartment to ask her to return and free the teenager. Maldonado did not initially answer the door, according to the report. Officers later encountered her outside the apartment.
Investigators said Maldonado admitted chaining her daughter and acknowledged that her conduct looked wrong. She told police she was overwhelmed by caring for the child and needed a break, reports citing the arrest affidavit said.
Maldonado told investigators that she intended to prevent her daughter from leaving the property and believed the restraint would keep her safe, police said. Authorities alleged that she silenced her phone after driving away so she would not be disturbed and then returned home to watch television.
The allegations prompted strong reactions from residents near the property. Neighbors told local television stations that the reported treatment of the child was disturbing and should never happen. Video from across the street showed people walking toward the fence after the girl was discovered.
Maldonado faces felony counts of child abuse and child neglect. The accusations remain allegations, and a criminal charge does not establish guilt. She has pleaded not guilty, according to published court information.
Police have not released details about any separate child welfare proceedings, the teenager’s placement or whether additional family members are subject to court restrictions. Maldonado’s next reported criminal court date is Sept. 9.
Author note: Last updated July 14, 2026.