Florida woman arrested after allegedly leaving grandchild in hot car while shopping

A Florida woman was arrested after police say she left her young grandchild alone in a hot car while she went grocery shopping at Publix.

Elena Grady, 63, was booked into the Volusia County Jail on a charge of child neglect resulting in bodily harm after her 2-year-old grandchild was found unattended in an overheated car in the Publix parking lot on Tuesday.

According to jail records, Grady was released shortly after midnight Wednesday after posting her $3,000 bail.

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Volusia County Sheriff’s officers responded to the Publix on Roscommon Drive in Ormond Beach around 3 p.m. on Tuesday after store managers noticed a child sitting alone in a parked car, the department said on Facebook.

The child “appeared lethargic” in the car, which was “parked in the blazing sun, with no shade, no engine and the windows open,” the post said.

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A Publix manager was able to reach into the car, unlock it and take the toddler into the store to cool off. Grady then approached them inside the store and “took custody of the child.”

“(Grady) left Publix but was later located by officers who also checked on the child and found him to be in good health,” the sheriff’s office said.

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When the toddler was left in the car, it was 33 degrees outside with a heat index of 38 degrees, according to the sheriff’s office. It was also determined that the toddler was alone in the car for approximately 16 minutes.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office posted a reminder on Facebook about how quickly temperatures can rise inside a turned-off car. On a 32-degree day, cars can reach a temperature of 49 degrees within 30 minutes and 52 degrees after 90 minutes.

“Let’s avoid a tragedy and remember NOT to leave children, pets or vulnerable adults in a hot vehicle, even for just a few minutes,” the Volusia Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook.

Source of the original article: Florida woman arrested after allegedly leaving grandchild in hot car while shopping