Second mother admits to leaving child in freezing car

Through an agreed statement of facts provided to the court, it was revealed that a civilian called the Lethbridge Police Service at 11:25 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2016, after hearing a baby crying in a locked and shut-off vehicle parked along the 200 block of 5 Street South. Officers arrived on scene immediately and smashed one of the front windows out of a white SUV after it was identified by the witness. Inside they found a three-year-old girl who was crying and cold to the touch.

After sending the girl to the Chinook Regional Hospital, police searched the vehicle and found a four-year-old boy curled up in a ball under a pile of jackets and shivering silently. Both were wearing winter coats.

Police noted that it was snowing that night and the temperature was -18 C.

A report prepared by a pediatric specialist stated that both children were suffering from mild or early hypothermia, but that neither sustained any long-term physical harm. While the author of the report couldn’t say how much longer the children would have lasted in the vehicle, it was noted that there was a risk of severe hypothermia, frostbite and even death.

During a search of the area, police found both women in a nearby bar where they were drinking. It was noted that their vehicle could not be seen from the bar.
The investigation – which included help from the bar – revealed that the woman had been there for about an hour.

Other accused receives conditional discharge

The 25-year-old woman admitted to the same charge in October of 2017 and was sentenced in March to a conditional discharge.

The sentence entails one year of probation, and if she complies with all of the conditions included in that – abstain from the use of alcohol and drugs, attend counselling as directed by her supervisor, among others – she will be granted a discharge that will result in no criminal record.

It was noted in court that she has taken substantial steps to turn her life around and had regained full custody of her daughter from the Ministry of Children’s Services.

by Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Second mother admits to leaving child in freezing car

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