An Indianapolis couple has been charged with child neglect after they allegedly left their two children locked in an unheated SUV in mid-90 degree temperatures while they were shopping at a Walmart, police said.
Lawrence police estimated the interior temperature of the Ford SUV had reached 125 degrees by the time a passerby discovered the children in the parking lot around 7 p.m. and called 911. Fox 59.
The parents, Myrianne Pierre and Watson Joseph, both 31, were arrested and booked into the Marion County Jail on charges of neglect of a dependent, the outlet reported. They have been out on bond since their arrest on Monday, online records show.
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According to Lawrence, Indiana, police, Watson Joseph, 31, pictured, and Marianna Pierre, also 31, were charged Monday evening with neglect of a dependent. (Marion County Jail)
When rescued, one of the children was “sweating profusely from his head and neck,” while the other appeared to be semi-conscious, according to the outlet. Both were taken into custody by child welfare officials, police said.
The parents arrived in their car at roughly the same time as police and were “confused about what was going on,” according to the charging document, which was confirmed by prosecutors. Law and Crime.
Pierre told detectives he was in the store for a “brief period of time” and that Joseph went inside to help him carry some heavy items. Pierre claims the SUV continued to run for another five minutes without the keys nearby, according to documents.
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Police said Mirianne Pierre (pictured) and Watson Joseph “appeared confused about what was going on” when they emerged from the store and spotted police and paramedics. (Marion County Jail)
However, surveillance footage reviewed by police showed the couple entered the store at approximately 6:27 p.m. The children were left unattended for 45 minutes, according to the affidavit.
Paramedics examined the children at the scene and found both to be in good health except for abnormally high blood pressure for their ages, police said.
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Police estimated that the interior of the SUV, which was parked in the Walmart parking lot shown in the photo, reached 125 degrees Fahrenheit in the 45 minutes the couple left their children there. (Google Maps)
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) did not investigate the incident but warned parents not to leave children unattended in cars.
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“When it’s hot outside, you don’t want to leave your kids alone out there. The minute you turn off the engine, the temperature shoots up,” said Sergeant Anthony Patterson with the Indiana State Police. “The minute you close the door, the temperature shoots up. It may only feel like a few minutes, but it’s an eternity for the people and children inside the car. It gets hot really fast.”
