Copyright New York Post
The Texas mother facing felony charges for allegedly leaving her baby girl alone on a Florida beach for more than an hour is a successful health care administrator with high accolades to her name. Sara Sommers Wilks, 37, landed on Cardiovascular Business’ “Forty Under 40” list in April, with the publication describing her as “an exceptional leader” in the health care world. “Sara’s strategic innovations have not only improved the quality of care but also ensured timely delivery of services,” the publication wrote. “Her ability to navigate complex health care environments and drive positive change is a testament to her leadership and vision.” “Sara’s contributions to the field of cardiology are marked by her dedication to improving patient outcomes and her commitment to operational excellence,” it added. But the allegations against Sommers — a Houston-based regional president of the healthcare group US Heart and Vascular — are far-cry from the patient care she’s known for at work. Sommers and her husband, 40-year-old Brian Wilks, were arrested October 10 on Miramar Beach in Florida’s panhandle after beachgoers noticed a six-month-old baby had been left napping and completely unattended under a tent. Authorities were quickly called while good Samaritans kept watch over the baby, and police were on the scene when Sommers and Wilks came walking back with their three other children in tow. Both parents claimed they’d gone for a walk and “lost track of time,” the Walton County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post. The family had been gone for nearly an hour, security footage from the scene showed, while both parents had left their phones behind with the baby and were completely unreachable while away. Footage from the scene also showed the adorable baby being held by fellow beachgoers who stepped in and scooped her up when she noticed what was happening. Local fire department paramedics soon arrived and found the baby was healthy and not in distress, police said. But Sommers and Wilks were still arrested and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm. Their four kids were held by local child services until a family member could collect them. The parents were held on $1,000 bond after spending the night in jail. Neither could be reached for comment. Sommers’ workplace also did not respond to request for comment. The business manages and provides support services for small cardiovascular practices across Texas, Alabama and Arizona.
