MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin – A Wisconsin mother who forced her 12-year-old son to walk alone along a busy interstate highway after an argument about his grades has now pleaded guilty to child abandonment. The incident, which occurred in November 2024, drew widespread concern after multiple drivers reported seeing the boy crying near fast-moving traffic. The case concluded this week with a probation sentence.
Incident Overview
According to court filings, 44-year-old Flor Escalante admitted to abandoning her child after a confrontation over his school performance. She had been driving him to a Sylvan Learning Center session in Brookfield when their discussion escalated. At one point, Escalante pulled over on the shoulder of Interstate 94, ordered her son to exit the car, and drove off, leaving him to walk nearly two miles on his own.
The official temperature that day was about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and the boy was not dressed for the cold weather. He was left on the shoulder just steps from a highway where vehicles routinely reach speeds close to 70 miles per hour.
This case, detailed in court records and police reports, was discussed again this week as Escalante formally pleaded guilty.
Timeline of Events
The incident occurred on November 8, 2024, as Escalante and her son traveled to his tutoring session. At approximately the halfway point, their argument intensified. She then pulled over the vehicle on I-94 and instructed him to walk the remaining distance…