A Utah mother has been charged after she allegedly watched as her 4-year-old son struggle inside of a hot car.
In an affidavit obtained by KUTV, police said that on June 2, Jesica Brown, 28, put the boy inside the vehicle as punishment for “acting out.”
Draper City Police got a call to conduct a welfare check at Draper City Park after getting a report that the mother had put the boy inside the car with the windows rolled up.
Brown and her boyfriend were standing outside the car, watching the child, who was visibly sweating when officers arrived.
The child had allegedly been misbehaving at the park, which is why the mother decided to put him inside the vehicle for “punishment purposes.”
Police took the child out of the car and found that he was hot to the touch and had puffy eyes.
Officers also found drug paraphernalia inside that car that was consistent with heroin use. Brown admitted on the scene that she used methamphetamine and heroin.
Needles were located inside of a purse in the car that was in reach of the child.
The mother has been charged with child endangerment and child abuse. Her boyfriend was not charged with any crime.
It was around 82-degrees outside when the incident occurred. It’s unclear how long the boy was locked inside the car.
According to a 2018 study, a car can heat up to dangerous levels in just two hours, even if it’s as low as 72 degrees outside.
Children are more susceptible to high temperatures because they’re bodies aren’t as effective at cooling down.
