Omaha police arrest woman after child found in SUV dies

A 40-year-old woman is in custody after a child was left unattended in a car and died Wednesday, according to Omaha police. Juanita Pinon was arrested on a charge of child abuse by neglect resulting in death. Omaha police said Pinon was the victim’s foster mother. Previous coverage: Omaha police say 5-year-old found in SUV dies Officers were called to the scene in the area of ​​93rd and Binney streets just after 5 p.m. A witness told KETV he and Pinon rushed to an SUV from a beauty salon and found the child inside. CPR was performed and the child was taken to the hospital. He did not survive. Omaha police said the child is 5 years old and in foster care. The boy, identified in a police report as Dionicio Perez, was in the car for seven hours, according to police. Pinon has not commented on whether she left the boy there “accidentally or intentionally,” Omaha police said.Investigators said they were not told why Perez could not get out of the car herself.The heat index was 31 degrees at 5 p.m. At that temperature, it would take 10 minutes for the car to reach 38 degrees, according to KETV meteorologists.KETV reached out to the Department of Health, which confirmed the child was in foster care. DHHS said it was cooperating with law enforcement.Background checks: What’s included in the state of Nebraska’s criteria to become a foster parent?Employees at the beauty salon said Pinon was not getting her hair or nails done. She was actually in her own office attached to the back of the salon. Omaha police were on the scene for hours Wednesday evening investigating the beauty salon and interviewing witnesses.Summer safety: How to spot signs of heat-related illness. Nationwide, an average of 37 children die each year from heat stroke after being left in a vehicle, according to the National Safety Council. In more than half of those cases, a child was forgotten, according to the council. Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7.