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Subscribe to RSSPolice arrested the mother of a toddler who was found unconscious after allegedly being left in a sweltering vehicle. KNSD's Diana Guevara reports.
A mother in National City, Calif., was arrested Tuesday after leaving her baby strapped inside her car while she shopped, police said.
The baby was found by emergency personnel in an unconscious state, soaked in sweat from sitting in the direct sunlight, according to National City Police Sgt. Julian Villagomez.
Surveillance footage showed the woman left the car in the East Plaza Boulevard shopping center at about 3 p.m. for about 10 minutes while shopping at a clothing store nearby.
Police received a call from a maintenance worker, who noticed the 4-month old inside the four-door sedan.
First-responders broke into the car through the window to rescue the baby, who was unconscious. The baby was revived and taken to Rady Children's Hospital.
The baby is said to be okay.
The mother, who police identified as Starley Cristal Geart, 25, came out of the store when she saw police near her car, and told authorities that she only left for a minute.
Witnesses described her reaction as nonchalant.
"She wasn’t sad or crying or anything," one witness said. "It didn’t even bother her. I don’t know how a parent can be like that."
Highs in National City on Tuesday reached about 75 degrees, but firefighters said temperature inside the car could have gotten as high as 140 degrees.
Geart was booked into jail on child-endangerment charges. The baby's case will be handled by Child Protective Services.
Hot vehicles can quickly turn into lethal traps for children.
Earlier this week, the three-year-old daughter of foster parents in Jackson County, W.Va., was found dead after the family forgot her inside their SUV for three hours in 87-degree weather, reported NBC affiliate WSAZ.com. Charges are expected to be filed against the parents for Sunday's incident.
Fifteen children have died so far from being left in hot cars in 2012, according to Golden Gate Weather Services, which tracks child hyperthermia fatalities. In 2011, there were 33 hot-car child deaths.
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This has been making headlines all summer, and every week there is one more case of stupid out there. Is shopping really that important?
My only question is what the phuck is the matter with people.
@Panhead you stole the words right out of my mouth. WTF is wrong with people? Are they really so lazy or selfish that they can't inconvenienced by their kids while shopping? As the mother of two young children, I can't understand how anyone would purposely leave (or forget for that matter) their child(ren) in the car. It doesn't matter if I'm going in to 7-11 for an iced coffee, when I'm out of the car, so are my boys.
I've said it a million times. If you don't want to handle and raise a kid correctly, then don't freaking have any. Be selfish like me. I will never have kids, there is too much I want to do in life. At least I am truthful. There is no way she is that stupid. She just didn't give a phuck. Take this baby away from her and give it to a couple that really wants one.
To be fair, this article mentions two cases of neglect, then throws out the 33 deaths figure. It's a little misleading, because I'm betting that most of those 33 deaths were not by parents who willfully chose to shop "real quick" with their children in the car. Previous studies show that this usually happens when a caregiver forgets the child is in there at all, such as when a different parent than usual takes the parent to daycare, but ends up going straight to work because the baby fell asleep and they forgot she was there.
To be fair, Mrs. MLA, it sounds like you're used to traveling with your boys, so it's second nature to take them with you when you get out of the car. That's a big advantage. I remember after we bought our first house, I drove back to our old apartment several times out of habit. I can't count how many times I've had to double back to a gas station I passed, or when going to a location down the same road as a place I frequent more often. At one point, when my car was in the shop for a long time, my husband and I were car pooling and I found myself going to pick him up after work even after we got the other car back. I get teased all the time for my spaciness, but no one would be laughing if forgetting my children was on that list. Going on auto-pilot is part of the human condition, and villifying that as "lazy" or "selfish" when it becomes tragic is just cruel. I wish there was a simple solution.
Just when you think you have humanity figured out, nature creates more stupid.
Starley Cristal Geart should just about solve this case.
Every summer we hear about children and pets dying in hot cars, yet every year people continue to leave their children and pets in the cars.
The people who do this should have their parental or ownership rights removed and the children/pets put in the homes of people who actually do care for them.
Highs in National City on Tuesday reached about 75 degrees, but firefighters said temperature inside the car could have gotten as high as 140 degrees.
And here in Spokane we had a dog left in a car. The person can be convict two ways:
And that's for only a dog. This "mother" needs her parental rights revoked! The child would better with a parent (numerous moms & dads looking for a baby) that frilling cares!
BTW - If anyone cares, here the URL about the dog:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48329171/ns/local_news-spokane_wa/
I say this with great hesitation, but, I can see how it might happen if the father forgets that the baby is in the car, or somebody else is caring for the baby and they forget. I don't see how a MOTHER of a 4-MONTH OLD BABY just leaves her baby in the car while she shops for CLOTHES. I have a 2-year old who has always been watched after, never left alone to fend for himself, and I couldn't even fathom the idea of running in anywhere "really quick" and leaving him in the car. Until father's day of this year, he had never been out of my sight longer than it takes me to pee.
It's almost like these mothers want this to happen to their kids. She should never be allowed to see that baby again.
I heard a suggestion that might help those who are distracted. Put a stuffed animal in the carseat. When you put your child in the seat, put the stuffed animal in the front seat as a reminder.
(My own suggestion would be to refrain from having children until you get over what a great "multi-tasker" you are.)
I really do not undestand how the govt insists we have licenses for anything and everything..from driving to fishing to putting up a shed but any idiot can have a child. Should have mandatory parenting classes in High School. Then those who neglect their children should recieve the same fate as they thrust upon their innocent victims...lock the mom inside a 140 degree car and televise it...people would start being more careful with their children
JLM..to be fair...I hope you never decide to have children
Maybe they just need to lock the parents in a hot car in sweltering heat as punishment.
Spay and neuter any and all people who 'forget' kids in hot cars as part of their mandatory penalties.
I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to using the computer to make changes in society, but isn't there someone out there who is who can start a new movement in our country, namely that of having stores and businesses frequently ask customers about children left in their cars, and even post some standard sign everywhere? "Welcome to Foodmart. Don't forget: a child or pet left in a car for just a few minutes can lead to disaster and to you being hauled off to jail. Did you forget something?"
Most of us can't imagine anyone being so dumb or so absent-minded, but it happens, and so it may be up to the rest of us to do what we can to intervene, whether by making announcements or breaking a window when it is obvious that needs to be done. And those large businesses that have patrol cars should have their drivers get out of their cars and look down into the customers' cars to see if any children are present. We've got to do something. Just shooting off our mouths will accomplish nothing. By the way, I confronted a driver who left his dog in a car in the sun for many minutes...found him sitting in a bar...and he wanted to fight me, so don't expect the idiots to be grateful, but that's not important. The kids do matter.
Disgusting
She should be held in her car in a parking lot until she can post bail.
She should be kept in a wooden box in the back of the police station impound yard... no water or food until she can post bail.
I cannot believe that people still don't understand this.
Haven't they ever gotten into a car that's been sitting in the sun? Sometimes it's too hot to touch the steering wheel or gearshift. How can you expect something not to go wrong when leaving a child (or pet) in that?
That is a good point, and maybe something to think about. Why do we allow our cars to get so hot? I sure don't like climbing into an oven after I run errands. It's particularly bad when I get groceries at multiple stores, because I don't like my first set of items baking in the car while I buy the rest of the stuff. But I often leave the windows up because I don't want it to rain inside or I'm worried someone will steal stuff. If only there was a more secure way to vent a vehicle all day...
I once drove a really old pickup that had manual vents by the feet. There was actually a little hole down by the pedals with a sliding cover over it, and on really hot days, you could roll it back and get fresh outdoor air at your feet. Just like rolling down your window. Wouldn't it be nice if doors, ceilings and trunks had areas that could open from the inside, with some kind of sturdy mesh over the opening to keep out bugs and thieves? Then you could let your car vent while you were gone, without exposing the contents. Then maybe it wouldn't get so hot in there so quickly.
Of course, it may just exacerbate problems by giving people a false sense of security... making them think the car was safe for children to be left in, when they otherwise wouldn't. Then again, it might help keep temperatures down and make it easier for passersby to hear children for those inevitable times when it happens.
This isn't about finding ways to make our cars cooler!!!! Bottom line is a good parent doesn't leave their kid in the car for any reason, and they don't forget their kid is in the backseat EVER!!!!! Anyone with half a brain knows what happens to kids if they are left in a locked car!!!!
JLM ~ Are you for real???
People are talking so much about gun control right now... but what about child control? This kind of extreme irresponsibility warrants not allowing these people to have children.
It's disgusting. Poor child could have died, and there's so many great potential parents out there that want kids, but can't have them.
Lock her in the car and throw away the key!
Good idea, but the door handle will still work
White - we can fix that problem.
In cases where a helpless baby or small child is purposely (not accidentally) left in a vehicle alone, the caregiver should lose custody of all children under their care permanently. I can't believe this woman wasn't worried about someone breaking into the car and kidnapping her baby, at least. Maybe she is really so stupid she doesn't understand the greenhouse effect inside cars, but why wasn't she worried about kidnapping? I hope she realizes how incredibly lucky she is.
Have we reached the time where prospective parents must pass a test before conceiving? Something must be done to stop the gene pool of these STUPID people!
I think we reached that point about 50 years ago.
Interesting point, but I wouldn't trust the people in chage of the decision making.
You need to see the movie Idiocracy. It explains so much!
Makes me wonder how many children are left alone in automobiles during the rest of the year?
Good point!
You keep seeing news stories about the mother/father/grandparent who leaves a child or more in the car while "just" running into 7-11 etc for "just" a minute and having the car jacked with the child(ren) still in the car. "You cain't fix stupid!"
Agreed, enough already people who do this should lose custody of their child, of course she would probably just pop out another one. It might reform her more to make her stay in jail or do a lot of community service until these people learn to be responsible!
I can hear her now "But the sale was only for today officer" I wouldn't be surprised if her family will sit around the dinner table and bad mouth the worker that spotted the child "that man should minded hiz bizaniss"
You cannot, repeat cannot, fix stupid.
I agree with you; But, unfortunatly, you can die from it. Like this neglected child could have. Hope this woman loses her parental-rights AND gets jail-time.
maybe you can't fix stupid, but you can, and should "fix" stupid people. Just imagine if you had to have an IQ of 120 or so to reproduce.
These people should not be having children in the first place. As part of their sentence they should be neutered.
Excuse me, but could you please point out where you found that any one of the 15 incidents this year involved a welfare recipient.
Please leave your ignorance, and you hood, at the door.
Well, based on your very misinformed comment, I would have to assume that you are in no way a social worker. If you were really a social worker you would know that there is a 5 year lifetime limit on collecting public assistance benefits. So, for you to say that a person is on welfare for years, if not decades is just completely false. And, just because the mother is young does not mean that she is on public assistance. Please stop stereotyping. The mother is an idiot to be sure, but your comment is no better.
Wrong you are alaska, states can set their own limits if they don't use federal funds.
California does not have a 5 year limit.
And dirp,did social worker mention any paticular race?
Talk about knee jerk reactions.
I see two problems here. First the mother did not comprehend that although the temperature was in the mid 70s the heat inside the car can get much hotter. Secondly, she claimed to be away for just a minute when video footage showed ten or more minutes. She doesn't have a concept of time passing.
Because of these two traits and near tragedy happened. I wish young parents would learn that they need to continually supervise their young children. They should not be left alone, anywhere. If nothing else this woman showed very poor parenting skills and should, in my opinion, be denied the privilege of raising any children.
First, I don't understand how, when this is information is told over and over, how people don't realize that interior temps are higher than outside temps. Second, every person who leaves their child or pet unattended while shopping was gone only for a minute. It takes a hell of a lot more than a minute for a child or pet to die from extreme heat.
Surf Writer...not to put too fine of a point on it but males are neutered, females are spayed. Now I'm not inferring that the individual cited is a bitch, as in spaying a bitch, but I thought maybe somehow ...well anyway...You're right regardless of how we label it.
This was a 4-month old child and the mother didn't show concern when she came out of the store. This could be a case of postpartum depression or other mental illness. I'm slightly disturbed that people here have been saying things like certain people shouldn't have children, or that the child should automatically be taken away instead of trying to educate these people or find help for them if necessary.
I am disturbed by people like you that feel that she was not wrong for showing NO EMOTION about her baby being UNCONSIOUS. Where are your brains? Do you want to educate the shooter from Colorodo as well on why what he did was wrong and give him another chance?
Some people should not breed. If You should be forced to have insurance, you should be forced to have a d@mn common sense evaluation before having children as well.
"I am disturbed by people like you that feel that she was not wrong for showing NO EMOTION about her baby being UNCONSIOUS."
LisaB=127, what YOU don't understand is that mental illness can cause a person to "ACT" as if they are unable to show any EMOTION. There are several different diagnosis of this condition, from "disassociative disorder" to "catatonia", but unfortunately it IS totally possible that this woman (in an abnormal mental state) is not able to process the severity of the actions, thereby making it impossible for her to show any emotion about the situation.
Perhaps YOU shouldn't be so quick to ask others where their brains are until you find your own in that closed mind of yours.
@GreenEyedLadyinTexas:
Whether or not this woman has any mental illness is unclear, but in any regards she purposefully left a helpless, defenseless baby in a hot car to the point of unconsiousness. THAT is what the issue should be; not getting into a debate on her health status and calling other people close minded for being understandably appalled that a mother could show no emotion when faced with her unconsious baby at the doing of her own ignorant hands.
Green eyed lady,
I don't really care to what degree people have mental illnesses. If she was so mentally ill, maybe she should not be driving at all, let alone with her child in a car. And if she is so severly mentally ill, than how good would she be at even raising that child to begin with? Children need emotions from parents to LEARN! Apparently, this woman would teach her child to leave babies in hot cars, and I personally find that a great reason this person had no right to have a child. Thank you for your insight on mental illness however...
Lori...Thanks!
@LisaB-127 - There is a huge difference between a woman who may have made a poor, potentially fatal decision in a very short time, and the highly organized individual person who shot up the theater with MONTHS to plan and realize that what he was doing was wrong and seek help for his homicidal tendencies. One person is WAY past the point where education can help and the other may have a chance to be a good mother and member of society if society is willing to help them instead of condemning them.
@lori7425 - The mental state of the mother and the circumstances of what happened should very much be part of what we're discussing. If she is mentally ill she may not have had the capacity to understand that her action, or inaction, could lead to the death of her child.
Most people are saying things like "Some people shouldn't breed." I agree, but who's going to make that decision? The government? What would be the criteria for that? Would it be the amount of money someone has or will earn over a lifetime? Intelligence? Race? Religion? Education? A standardized test?
I fully support the child being taken away from the mother while she is evaluated and made to take parenting classes, but she deserves the chance to have her baby back if she gets the help she needs.
Also, how many of you that are calling for the child to be taken away have left YOUR child in a potentially dangerous situation, or had your attention wander away from your child long enough for them to do something that may have killed them? If every child who was ever left in a car, or wandered away from their parents, or was even left somewhere by them, was taken away from their parents I'm fairly certain that EVERY child in this country would have spent some time in the care of the government.
Are you kidding me? She LEFT HER BABY IN A CAR TO GO SHOPPPING FOR CLOTHING. Your **MAYBE** she is mentally ill argument is crap!
Unfit mothers are unfit mothers.
And mentally ill women should be EVALUATED before having children.
She is a selfish woman. Not a mentally ill woman. I don't buy that excuse for a moment.
Theatregoddess, how many uneducated people have you brought into your home so they see how to live in a family environment and use common sense? Are you a foster mother? Do you volunteer at literacy, parenting, or any other center? Have you remodeled your basement or bought another property to take in people with poor life skills? What are YOU doing to educate these people you defend so blindly??
You're actually going to make excuses for this 'mother?' She left an infant in the car to go shopping. She needs to go to jail and that poor child needs to go to a home where it will be loved and cared for.
LisaB and I'm concerned for you for believing what one stranger said in an article. You have only that person's word as to the mother's reaction, no one else's. No the woman should never have children, I don't care what her excuse is, whether or not she had depression. Once you have shown yourself capable of something like this you should never get another chance.
F Walsh - apparently you are not reading what I have said. Or maybe you meant to comment to someone else, but we share the same argument.
You have to pass a test to drive but not to be a parent...
It makes me wonder why the hell people like this are allowed to have their children back???
Hello when will people wake up and learn this? DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILD ALONE AT ALL!!!!
They will be harmed!! and Will die if you leave them in the heat! ugh ignorance is a bliss
Geez, people have to have a license to own a dog and yet people can have children without any knowledge required. MAKES NO SENSE!
Most of the heat-related vehicle deaths are complete accidents, not poor judgments, and it's tragic. Previous studies have shown that it is usually a change in routine, where a different caregiver is traveling with the child and forgets, rather than an "I'll just be a minute" mentality. It's so sad. It does seem like an easy thing to forget, if a child falls asleep - especially in a backward facing car seat. It was one of my greatest fears as a parent when my kids were too young to get out themselves.
maybe autos should have automatic windows that open when temp rises too high inside and sensors that act only if someone is inside or better yet use your brains people...this is so stupid
poor kid.. has no chance with that hog.. and i am sure the state of california tax payers are paying her to have that kid.. where's daddy?? give that kid to a respectful and deserving home. the world has plenty of folks out there that wish they could have children..
Oh, like the three year old who was left in a hot car and died? That child was in the care of foster parents. Do you mean that kind of deserving home?
Common trailer trash behavior...
Take away the child. Plenty people are waiting to adopt babies. This one deserves a good home. By the way, that mother needs jail time and STERILIZATION !
I will make a confession here and it in NO way excuses what this lady did, as she did it on purpose. However, I have three children, a few weeks after my second child was born my husband and I decided we needed some time together, but I wasn't ready to leave my baby with a sitter. So we dropped off our daughter with Grandma and drove to a restaurant. After dropping our daughter off it was so quiet in the car and when we got to the restaurant we both got out and walked in and I turned right back around, my husband looked at me all weird and I came back in with our son snoozing in his car seat...thank God we parked right at the entrance and my lapse in brain function was short lived. Our routine was so set for 3 years of only one child and having dropped her off and I don't know but it's like complete brain fog. I have been ashamed to this day of doing that and I only made it in the entrance and right back out. I can't imagine how some parents feel that forget all day thinking they dropped them off and find their child dead. I don't know if it's lack of sleep or just complete lapses in judgement. I really don't know. I am not a perfect parent and I make my mistakes but that 30 seconds of my life is the one I feel most guilty about.
Now as for this lady, how sick. I would never in a million years leave my young kids in a car. Disgusting.
SDMN: the key is, you did turn around and get your son. Temporary brain fog is allowed for 30 seconds. No child is harmed for 30 seconds.
When my children were too small to get in and out of the car themselves, I never left them alone in the car. Even at gas stations, I would not leave them. Without knowing how long it would take to pay for the gas, given the number of kidnappings and other strange events, my children were too important to me to just leave in the car.
she needs fixed so she can't re-produce again...then take this child from her so she has a chance to grow up...stupid "people".....