NC Grandmother Arrested After Leaving Infant in Hot Car Between Two Patrol Vehicles

A North Carolina woman left her 8-month-old granddaughter alone in a hot car for 10 minutes on a 96-degree day. After her arrest, she still asked about adopting free kittens.

Grandmother Charged With Child Abuse After Infant Left in Sweltering Car Outside Animal Shelter

A 50-year-old North Carolina woman has been charged with misdemeanor child abuse after leaving her infant granddaughter locked in a car with the engine off on a 96-degree day, Law & Crime reports, citing a press release from the Union County Sheriff's Office.

Dedra McManus had driven to the Union County Animal Services building in Monroe — a city roughly 25 miles southeast of Charlotte — on Sept. 3 to browse kittens available for adoption. She was accompanied by friends at the time. Her 8-month-old granddaughter was left alone in the parked car, which was positioned between two fully marked Union County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicles.

Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators at the scene showed the child had been left unattended for approximately 10 minutes.

McManus apparently noticed the situation deteriorating before deputies intervened. According to the sheriff's office press release, she spotted three deputies approaching the adoption area and ran back to her vehicle so hastily that she dropped her Apple Watch on the ground. She then returned inside the building carrying the baby.

Deputies nonetheless placed McManus under arrest. Paramedics responded and determined the infant "appeared to be okay," the sheriff's office said. The child was subsequently transferred into the custody of child welfare agents.

What followed drew particular attention from authorities. Even after being placed under arrest, McManus asked staff at the Animal Services building whether she could still receive free kittens — explaining she had missed the Clear the Shelter adoption event held in August. "We quickly declined her request and transported her to the Detention Center," the sheriff's office stated in the press release.

McManus posted a $3,000 bond on Friday and was released.

Source: Law & Crime