A North Carolina woman has been charged with child abuse after authorities claim she left her baby granddaughter inside her car on a 96-degree day to look at kittens..
Dedra McManus drove to Union County Animal Services with the 8-month-old infant on Thursday, September 3, when authorities said she parked her vehicle between two Union County sheriff’s deputies’ cars.
Then she allegedly stepped out of her vehicle and left the baby behind during what was a 96-degree day, the Union County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
As the infant sat in McManus’ vehicle, which had been turned off, McManus and her friends went inside the animal shelter to look at kittens available for adoption, according to authorities.
“When McManus saw three deputies approaching the adoption area, she ran back to her vehicle so quickly she dropped her Apple Watch in the process,” the sheriff’s office said.
McManus then grabbed her granddaughter and brought her into the animal shelter with her, police claim.
Surveillance footage showed her granddaughter by herself in the hot car for about 10 minutes, authorities said.
It’s estimated that 37 children die of heatstroke from being left or trapped inside a hot vehicle each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a car can hit 109 degrees Fahrenheit after just 20 minutes in 80-degree weather. After 40 minutes, the interior of a vehicle can hit 118 degrees. After an hour, it can reach upwards of 123 degrees.
Deputies ultimately arrested McManus at the animal shelter on a child abuse charge, according to the sheriff’s office.
First responders who evaluated her granddaughter determined she appeared “okay,” the sheriff’s office said.
Following McManus’ arrest, she was still looking to adopt a kitten, according to authorities.
She asked deputies whether she could receive free kittens after missing a shelter event in August, authorities said.
“We quickly declined her request and transported her to the Detention Center,” the sheriff’s office said.
As a result of the incident, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Social Services took custody of McManus’ granddaughter, according to the sheriff’s office. The office didn’t specify whether the baby was reunited with another family member.
McManus was released from jail on Friday, September 4, after posting a $3,000 bond, per Law & Crime.
Information on whether McManus had retained legal representation or entered a plea wasn’t immediately available.
Union County is about a 30-mile drive southeast from Charlotte.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
