Deputies in Putnam County say a Palatka mother ended her Sunday evening in handcuffs after they found her asleep in a parked car outside a local church, with three small children and drugs inside. The vehicle was sitting in front of Midway Baptist Church on Bardin Road when deputies returned to check on it and woke everyone up. The children, ranging from an infant to about 4 years old, were later placed with a family member while deputies continued their investigation.
Deputies say drugs were inside the vehicle
According to News4JAX, a deputy had previously spotted the car, then came back and found the driver, identified by authorities as 33-year-old Amanda Burkes, asleep with the three children in the vehicle. Burkes told deputies there were no drugs in the car. Deputies say a search turned up marijuana, drug paraphernalia and what they described as trafficking amounts of methamphetamine. Burkes was taken to the Putnam County Jail, where she was being held without bond as of Monday morning.
Multiple charges filed
Officials say Burkes faces a long list of charges, including three counts of child neglect, trafficking amounts of amphetamine, possession of a vehicle for drug activity and possession of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a place of worship, along with marijuana and drug equipment charges, per Action News Jax. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said deputies contacted a relative who agreed to take custody of the children. Authorities have not released any information about possible prior criminal history for Burkes.
Trafficking near a church can carry stiffer penalties
Florida law increases penalties for selling or possessing with intent to sell controlled substances within 1,000 feet of certain protected locations, including places of worship. That means charges tied to the church parking lot could be filed at higher felony levels. Under Florida Statutes §893.13, offenses in specified zones such as schools, parks or churches can expose defendants to tougher sentencing ranges. Prosecutors will decide how to handle the trafficking allegation as the case moves through court, and Burkes is presumed innocent unless and until she is found guilty.
Children's welfare and custody
The Sheriff’s Office said the three children, described as an infant through 4 years old, were not hurt and were turned over to a family member, News4JAX reports. Deputies did not immediately identify that relative or say whether the Department of Children and Families was involved in any follow-up action. The agency declined to offer additional details while the investigation is ongoing.
Part of a wider local pattern
Recent cases in Putnam County show children repeatedly turning up in the middle of drug and DUI arrests, raising ongoing concerns about child safety in the area, according to WCJB. In January, deputies arrested a Palatka driver who had two children in his truck along with what officials described as large amounts of drugs, a case that also brought child neglect allegations. Authorities continue to urge residents to report any immediate safety concerns to local law enforcement or the Department of Children and Families.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office first shared details of the arrest on social media, and local outlets picked up the case from there. The agency did not immediately respond to requests for further comment. This story will be updated if new court filings or official statements provide additional information.
