A 63-year-old woman was arrested after she allegedly left her two-year-old grandchild in a parked car for around 15 minutes while she shopped at a Publix in Volusia County.
On Tuesday, July 2, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Publix located at 3750 Roscommon Drive in Ormond Beach in reference to a child being left unattended in a car in the parking lot, according to VCSO.
The sheriff’s office stated that at around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Publix managers noticed that a young child was inside a car that was parked “in full sun” with “no shade.” The vehicle was not running, and the windows were cracked open.
A Publix manager told deputies that the child “appeared lethargic.” The manager was able to reach into the car to unlock it, and the child was brought inside the supermarket to “cool off.”
According to VCSO, the child’s grandmother, identified as 63-year-old Longwood resident Elena Grady, eventually approached the manager and took custody of the child before leaving the grocery store.
Later that same day, deputies located Grady and the child, and the child appeared to be in good health.
The incident was investigated by the sheriff’s office, and deputies determined that the child had been left in the hot vehicle for approximately 16 minutes.
Grady was arrested and transported to Volusia County. She was released the following day after posting a $3,000 bond, and she is being charged with neglect of a child causing great bodily harm.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.
At the time of the incident on July 2, VCSO stated that the temperature outside was 91 degrees, with a heat index of 101 degrees. A car parked in the sun on a 90-degree day can reach 120 degrees within 30 minutes, and nearly 140 degrees after 90 minutes.
“Let’s avoid tragedy and remember NOT to leave children, pets, or vulnerable adults in a hot vehicle even if it’s only supposed to be a few minutes,” added the sheriff’s office.