Mother left baby in hot truck outside Lincoln Mall
by: Jusolyn Flower
LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI) — A Foster woman is facing charges after Lincoln police say she left her 7-month-old inside a hot vehicle while she went shopping on Sunday.
Police said they were called to Lincoln Mall around 5 p.m. for reports of a baby left alone inside a parked Ford Ranger.
According to police, the infant was in a rear-facing car seat and only the passenger window was slightly open. Police also said the doors were locked, the vehicle was turned off and there were no keys in the ignition.
Officers broke into the truck, finding the temperature inside was 84 degrees and the baby had a “flushed, sweaty appearance.”
After moving the child into an air-conditioned cruiser, police said 55-year-old Lorrie Carter walked up carrying several brown paper bags.
She reportedly admitted to leaving the 7-month-old in the truck while she went to get
some egg rolls from Asia Grille and miscellaneous items from Ocean State Job Lot.
Carter also told police she had been gone for about 20 minutes and usually leaves the car running, but couldn’t find her spare key.
According to police, Carter believed she didn’t do anything wrong and claimed that leaving the window cracked was enough. She was arrested and charged with cruelty or neglect of a child.
The baby was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital for evaluation, and the
R.I. Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) was notified, police said.
Carter is due in court on Monday, Aug. 19.