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Officials investigate child found in hot car
Tips to prevent leaving children in hot vehicle
• Use drive-through services where available, such as pharmacies and banks.
• Call dry cleaners and other businesses to schedule pickup and drop-off services at your vehicle. Most businesses will bring service curbside if you call ahead.
• Make advance arrangements for your child-care provider to meet you at your vehicle.
• Plan extra time into your pickup/drop-off routine to bring all children inside with you.
• Use your debit or credit card at the gas pump.
• Ask grocery store clerks to load your bags into your vehicle and return the grocery cart.
• Leave your children with a responsible adult, such as a family member or neighbor, when you need to run errands.
More Local News Child Protective Services is investigating a young mother who allegedly left her 6-month-old child unattended in her vehicle Monday while she shopped, Abilene police Sgt. Keith Shackleford said.
It was not clear how long the woman, 22, left the child in the car, which was parked in the 1300 block of Barrow Street. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in Abilene were in the upper 80s around 5:30 p.m. when police received a call that the child was injured.
The child suffered heat exhaustion and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The child's condition was not immediately available Tuesday.
The case is expected to be assigned today to a detective in the Child Advocacy Center for further police investigation.
CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner said she has found that miscommunication between parents is often the reason young children get left in cars.
"We're all busy, all stressed, all rushed," she said. "My experience has been that one parent believes the other has taken the child out of the car."
It can take a matter of minutes for the interior of a car to reach 100 degrees or more, especially in Texas -- a state that has, in years past, led the nation in hot car deaths, Meisner said.
"Parents need to realize that cars are not baby sitters. A child should never be left alone in a car" regardless of whether it's a quick trip or not, she said. "A lot of times children are sleeping in the back, the radio is on, and the parent's mind is elsewhere, and they just might forget the child is back there. Or they might see the child is sleeping and decide to run quickly into the store. ... That's absolutely unacceptable."
Meisner suggested that parents keep their purses or briefcases in the back seat near the child as a subtle reminder that the child is there.
It's second nature to grab your purse or brief case. It's something that a person doesn't often forget, she said.
Posted by mommakelly_64 on August 27, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay so she is saying that people remember their purse or briefcase before they remember they're child, bull crap. And as for the statement that usually one parent thinks the other got the kid, I don't see where there was another parent in this instance. She left the kid in the car because she didn't want to be bothered with getting him/her out. That is laziness and she should go to jail!
Posted by deborah_0515 on August 27, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You have got to be kidding. I am a mother whom had a very busy life, and I never "forgot" my child was in the car with me. Did the child disrupt her shopping time?
Posted by abileneres on August 27, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't believe this either! I am a working mother as well with 2 children & I've had hairy days when it seems that you just can't seem to get going & everything goes wrong, but I have NEVER, EVER forgotten about my kids, or had to have a 'subtle reminder that the child is there' as Ms Meisner is saying.
This is just a load of crap. It's just laziness on the part of the parent (s). They never seem to forget their cell phone, do they?
Posted by chrismarie1971 on August 27, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with all of the posters on here so far....I have 3 kids and 2 jobs....I have never ever forgotten that my kids were with me and I never leave my kids in the car by themselves. There are no good excuses for doing that...I don't care how busy you are. That's just poor parenting!
Posted by littleknownfact on August 27, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's kind of scary that all these people are not afraid to throw the first stone. She's young. She made a mistake. I know I made a lot of mistakes as a 22 year old. Did you all not?
Posted by rlc00b on August 27, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm totally appalled. I'm a busy working mother as well with 2 kiddos and I've never "forgotten" my kids in the car. Even when they were infants or sleeping. I've also never left them because it was more convenient, because they were sleeping. I wake them up, carry them, or turn around and go home.
Posted by mommakelly_64 on August 27, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yea I have made a lot of mistakes but not one where I almost killed my kid.
Posted by blahblah on August 27, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
little---yes, everyone makes mistakes. But leaving a baby in a car? It never stated that there was anyone else with her while she was shopping so the theory "the other parent" got the kid out of the car is rediculous.
I agree. I belive she was just lazy and didn't want to be bothered with it.
And---if there is ever a case where the parent thought the other got the baby out is bologna. Especially if they are in the same store.
"It's second nature to grab your purse or brief case. It's something that a person doesn't often forget"---that is sad!
Unfortunatly, it seems like the baby is in these cases aren't first nature as should be!
Posted by swimorsink on August 27, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SO THE OTHER PARENT MIGHT THINK THAT THE OTHER PARENT HAS THE CHILD...SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY ARE BOTH OUT OF THE CAR AND NO CHILD WALKING WITH THEM? THIS IS JUST A POOR EXCUSE TO EXPLAIN THE ACTIONS OF AN IRRESPONSBILE, NEGLETFUL WOMAN. THE BABY IS 6 MONTHS OLD AND SHE PUT THE BABY'S LIFE IN DANGER. PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. MEISNER IS TRYING TO EXPLAIN REASONS WHY CHILDREN ARE LEFT IN HOT CARS. ITS LAZINESS, IRRESPONSIBILITY AND NEGLECT. THIS WOMAN WHO LEFT THE 6 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR REGARDLESS OF THE REASON SHOULD BE ARRESTED.
Posted by halieghsmomma on August 27, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well I made tons of mistakes at 22, but it never involved anything to the extreme of leaving my six month old baby in a hot car to go shopping, that is just plain laziness!! This is just one mistake that is unforgivable.
Posted by mbs0606 on August 27, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHY ARE YOU YELLING???? I figure you must be new on here but writing in all caps won't get people to read your comment.
Posted by swimorsink on August 27, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AT 22 YEARS OLD SHE SHOULD HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE..I COULD SEE A 14,15 16 YEAR OLD MOTHER MAYBE MAKING THIS ERROR, BUT A 22 YEAR OLD???? ITS NOT COMMON TO MAKE DEADLY DECISIONS,,ONE THAT CAN KILL YOUR CHILD AT THAT AGE. THIS BABY COULD HAVE DIED BY A CARELESS ACT,,,SOMETHING THAT SHE HAS CONTROL OVER, THE BABY CANT SPEAK TO LET THE WOMAN KNOW ITS HOT AND IN DANGER. THIS WOMAN SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER ACTIONS.
Posted by swimorsink on August 27, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
im not yelling. I just like to type in all CAPS.
Posted by mbs0606 on August 27, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
little- 22 is old enough to know better. I had my baby when I was 21. Does that make me a bad mother? Some people are mature enough to have a baby at 21, but not all.
There is nothing that I remember that I did at 22 that was stupid. I guess I became a grown up faster than most.
Posted by bigdaddy5 on August 27, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
from the intital police report it stated she was questioned. CPS says a miscommunication could have played a role. Was there someone else with her? If so, they need to be locked up too! I have 5 kids and have never been so busy or rushed to not remember 1 of them. Are you kidding me, CPS lady says leave a purse or a briefcase by the child to "remember" you have a kid! Are you freaking kidding me!!!!!!!! You don't remember having sex which got you pregnant and don't remember 9 monhts of being pregnant and then labor? She was pregnant longer than the kid has been alive and she forgot she had it?
Posted by mariaestela on August 27, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There is NO reason whatsoever to ever leave your child in the car. Yes people make mistakes. But leaving your child alone in the car is not the kind of mistake you make. I don't consider that a mistake. I have 2 kids and take care of 2 more kids after school with my own and I have never forgotten my kids or the other 2 I take care of.
Posted by abileneres on August 27, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
little says: 'She's young. She made a mistake. I know I made a lot of mistakes as a 22 year old. Did you all not?'
Yes, EVERYONE makes mistakes- we are all imperfect, BUT, this was not a mistake. She was either to preoccupied w/her day to day life or as I personally believe- she was too lazy to get the baby out in the baby carrier, carry the baby into the store, safely secure the baby carier into the shopping cart. that was just way too much work for this 22 yr old so called 'mother'It was way too much easier to leave the baby in the car & go into the store & shop.
So sad for the baby. I sure hope that she pays for what she did, I sure hope that there was someone close to her that gave her a chewing out she won't soon forget. Cuz she needs that & awhole lot more!
Posted by mommakelly_64 on August 27, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sinkorswim
I don't care if you like to type in caps, it is rude!
Posted by swimorsink on August 27, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sorry i wasnt trying to yell or make my comment stand out or anything.
Posted by redhotfireandice_jd on August 27, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone ever consider that she ran into HEB to grab a box of diapers---probably thinking that she could be in and out in less than 3 or 4 minutes. The article said shopping and no one specified how long the child was in the car---
I agree you should never, never leave a child alone in the car, so don't get me wrong. But a mother of three kids under 6, I'll run to the mailbox and let the kids stay in the car where its still cool and they are comfortable--and I'm no more than 10 feet from them. So, as a mom, chances are her baby was sleeping and she needed one or two items and didn't want to disturb the child--she made a bad choice and she needs to be educated on this--not scorned....remember--ye that are without sin may cast the first stone--so this goes for those of you who never left the kids in car, but pops one of them on the hand and yells at them for throwing a fit.
Posted by apricottx on August 27, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We have all made mistakes, but this is the kind that kills. Once you are a parent, that is your sole responsibility. I never left my child in the car alone, even for a quick stop into store. I remember looking at him one time as he was sleeping and I thought, for an instant, what a shame to wake him. I chose to wake him as the bigger shame would have been to have left him and come back and he be gone. Nope, not even for a second would I leave my child unattended.
Posted by swimorsink on August 27, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
She didnt want to disturb the child....but the child ended up with heat exhaustion by the time help arrived. If she went to HEB,,you are not gonna be out in 3 or 4 minutes even if you just run in to get one item...at any rate. the baby was 6 months old. she left him/her alone. Besides its against the law to leave a child alone in a car.
Posted by abileneres on August 27, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It does not matter what she went in to buy! I don't care if she went in to buy a pack of gum- you don't leave your poor innocent 6month old in the car by him/herself! you just don't do that. So many things could have happened. There could have been an accident where the vehicle was hit by another veh-( hey it happened to me last yr in the same parking lot) the baby could have been kidnapped- (remember the baby that was kidnapped @ the Walmart parking lot) or God fobid the baby could have died!! IT IS NOT RIGHT TO EVER LEAVE A BABY UNATTENDED. !!! period, exclamation point!!!
Posted by apricottx on August 27, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
swimorsink, its protocol that all caps is yelling. You may not have known, so no worries.
Posted by biff29 on August 27, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Aside from the obvious fact that no one should ever leave their child in the summertime (or any other time) alone in a car, what about the risk of the child being abducted?! Why even risk that? If you can't get groceries because you are too lazy to get the baby out of the car, wait or get someone else to get what you need!!! Aren't fines assessed in these cases at the least?
Posted by motherknowsbest on August 27, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess she wanted someone to kidnap the kid. Who leaves their kid in the car in a public place for any reason? It doesn't matter race, color, creed, medicaid or age. But it does matter what we tax paying citizens have allowed to happen in the name of helping those who can't help themselves. We have enabled several generations of unfortunates to continue to breed and populate more unfortunates by not expecting anyone to accept responsibility for anything. We give them everything and now when they don't get what they want they cry discrimination or just go ahead and steal it. Oh, and what about the illegal aliens who didn't even ask for help and the politicians are already handing out freebies to people who can't even vote? Does anyone else see how stupid we Americans look to the world? And go ahead and vote for change or whatever....the situation was started during the last rescue attempt after the stock market crashed and look what change did for those of us who are approaching retirement? Remember medicare was designed to take care of the old people whose life expectancy was 67 at the time. See how the people in Washington care? They forgot to think about how long their grandkids might live. Which means our kids better start saving for retirement while they're in grade school. Babies left in cars is just one example of how irresponsible America has become. No one values life anymore. That would be okay if their reason was because they were living like they were in line for a trip to Heaven.
Posted by mommakelly_64 on August 27, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't believe anyone would leave thier baby in a car that they can't see. If you step a few feet away to get the mail and can still see the car for only a few minutes, that's one thing, but to go into a store where you can't see the car in the middle of the day when there have been so many stories of babies dying in cars, that's not bad judgement, that's pure STUPID. And yes that kind of STUPID is still illegal! I think we should lock up people who leave they're pets in cars too! It's inhumane!
Posted by blahblah on August 27, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
red---yes, we have thought...thought that is the stupidest thing a parent could do!
1. What if someone would have hit or ran into the car when the mother was inside?
2. What if someone would have stolen the car with the baby inside?
3. What if someone would have seen the baby and stolen him/her?
So --- why would you even ask that???
Posted by Reagan_Bush08 on August 27, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
motherknowsbest.....rock on!
Posted by bigdaddy5 on August 28, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
red - are you serious?
i dont' care what she went in to get, diapers, baby food, baby wipes - it doesn't matter. The fact is she left a poor defensive child in a hot car in the middle of a grocery store parking lot! And another thing, I have never seen or witnessed anyone go inside HEB and be out in 3 minutes.
Posted by VoodooChylde on August 28, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sorry and realize that Ms. Meisner is in a position that requires her to use politically correct, euphemistic language however, I am not bound by such constraints. It is a damned sorry commentary on we as humans when remembering our purse/wallet/material possessions becomes easier than remembering our own children!
Perhaps if we weren't all so wrapped up in work, wealth, status, keeping up with the "Joneses" and self-involvement, we'd realize that children are our most precious resource. Tragic.
Definitely time for all of us to refocus and re-prioritize. Whatever this young lady was purchasing in the store cannot look at her with loving eyes and give her a hug.
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