Police: Babysitter arrested after leaving children, pets in hot vehicle
A Lehigh Acres woman was arrested Saturday after she left two children and two pets in a “scorching hot vehicle” while she received a facial, officials said.
Dayana Cardenas, 22, of 3303 4th Street West, Lehigh Acres was charged with culpable negligence.
Deputies were called to the Shoppes at Plantation Drive off Daniels Parkway at approximately 3 p.m. after a citizen noticed the children – a boy and girl ages 6 and 7 – sitting in a non-running vehicle with the windows rolled up in the intense afternoon heat, officials said in a prepared statement.
The children displayed symptoms of heat stress and were immediately transported to the hospital.
An investigation shows the babysitter, a relative of the children, left the children and pets in a running vehicle when she went to the salon, officials said. She had been in the salon for approximately 45 minutes when the discovery was made. The babysitter told deputies she left the vehicle running with the AC on. When the children were discovered, the key in the ignition was still in the “on” position, but the vehicle had stopped running. At this time, it’s unknown how long the children and pets were in the vehicle after it had stopped running.
The pets also displayed symptoms of heat stress and were turned over to Lee County Animal Services. The children were treated and have since been released from the hospital.
Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office