Woman Told police She Forgot Her Child Was In 90 Degree Car While She Shopped

A woman by the name of Gloria Elzy, allegedly left her 5-week-old baby in a parking lot outside a mall in Slidell, Louisiana, where
temperatures were about 90 degrees. The baby became
unresponsive while locked in a vehicle, but was rescued
after an onlooker noticed and called 911.

Elzy's excuse to the authorities was that she simply
forgot about her child while going to the mall. She was
taken into custody and charged with second-degree
cruelty to juveniles, while both of her children have been
handed over to Child Protective Services.

According to NOLA.com, Elzy claimed to be in complete
shock when she returned to her vehicle and noticed the
swarm of law enforcement officials there. Even the
arresting officers, however, seemed to understand that
this phenomenon has been occurring with such
regularity that parents should now be more cautious.

"With all the media attention on this type of issue, it's
mind-boggling to me that someone can leave – better
yet forget – about a child inside of a vehicle," said Police
Chief Randy Smith. "If the citizen wouldn't have
immediately called Slidell police, and Officer Funck didn't
act quickly, the baby would not have survived. They are
both heroes in my book."