Tipora Merriex left the theater on Saturday with her crying child, placed the toddler in a 2002 Cadillac Escalade outside, and returned to the theater, police said.
An 18-year-old mother in Lake City, Florida, has been charged with felony child neglect after leaving her 2-year-old daughter locked in a hot car so she could finish watching the “Smurfs” movie, according to police.
Police said in a post to social media that Tipora Merriex left the theater on Saturday with her crying child, placed the toddler in a 2002 Cadillac Escalade outside, and returned to the theater to watch the movie with her siblings. According to police, witnesses saw her remain in the theater while her child was in the car. Temperatures reached 94 degrees that day, with a heat index of 107.
Police officers arrived to find the child sweating, flushed, and crying. They broke the vehicle’s driver window to rescue her and rushed her to Lake City Medical Center for treatment. The child has since recovered.
When Merriex exited the theater, police say she appeared dismissive of the situation, saying she “acted as though the whole situation wasn’t a big deal as she just stood next to her vehicle.” She also initially claimed she forgot the child was in the car. However, witnesses told CBS47 that Merriex intentionally left the toddler in the vehicle and only checked on her periodically during the film.
“Our officers acted swiftly to ensure the safety of this young child,” said Chief of Police Gerald Butler. “Leaving a child unattended in a vehicle under these conditions is unacceptable. We are thankful the child is safe and urge all parents to prioritize the well-being of their children at all times.”
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