Home / Crime and Justice / Mom Charged After Toddler Left in 98° Heat
Mom Charged After Toddler Left in 98° Heat
1 Jun
Summary
- A mother was arrested for child neglect after leaving her daughter in a hot car.
- The 3-year-old suffered seizures and was in critical condition.
- The heat index reached 98 degrees Fahrenheit during the incident.
A DeLand woman, Latana Williams, 27, was arrested on May 31 and charged with felony child neglect. Police reported that Williams left her 3-year-old daughter unattended in a vehicle for approximately two hours. This occurred while Williams was reportedly at a nearby plasma donation center.
The child was discovered unresponsive in the car, prompting bystanders to initiate CPR before emergency services arrived. The toddler was transported to a hospital in critical condition, experiencing seizures. Meteorologists confirmed the heat index in DeLand on that day reached 98 degrees Fahrenheit.
Authorities are reminding parents about the extreme dangers of leaving children in vehicles, especially during hot weather. Capt. Prurince Dice emphasized the importance of vehicle safety and allocating sufficient travel time to avoid rushing. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
