Florida woman arrested after allegedly leaving grandson in hot car while she ran errands

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

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

Grady was released just after midnight Wednesday after posting her $3,000 bail, jail records show.

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

The child “appeared lethargic” inside the car, which was “parked in direct sunlight, with no shade, no engine running, and the windows ajar,” the post said.

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A Publix manager was able to gain access to the car to unlock it and brought the child into the store to freshen up. Grady then approached them inside the store and “took custody of the child.”

“[Grady] “He left Publix but was later located by deputies who also checked on the child and found her to be in good health,” the sheriff's office said.

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According to the sheriff's office, when the little boy was left in the car, it was 33 degrees outside with a heat index of 38 degrees. It was also determined that the little boy was left 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, noting that on a 90-degree day, cars can reach 120 degrees in 30 minutes and 138 degrees after 90 minutes.

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

Source of the original article: Florida woman arrested after allegedly leaving grandson in hot car while she ran errands