Inset: Dedra McManus (Union County Sheriff’s Office). Background: Union County Animal Services in Monroe, North Carolina (Union County Animal Services).
A North Carolina grandmother was arrested after authorities say she left her 8-month-old granddaughter alone in a parked car with the engine turned off during sweltering summer weather while she went inside to look at free kittens.
Dedra McManus, 50, is facing a misdemeanor child abuse charge, the Union County Sheriff’s Office said.
The case unfolded on Sept. 3 outside Union County Animal Services in Monroe, North Carolina, a city located about 25 miles southeast of Charlotte, according to a sheriff’s office press release.
Investigators said McManus had gone to the county facility with friends to view kittens that were available for adoption.
Deputies said the infant was left inside a vehicle parked in a highly visible spot — directly “between two fully marked Union County Sheriff’s Office vehicles.”
Authorities allege McManus appeared to realize there was a problem when deputies began moving toward the adoption area.
“When McManus saw three deputies approaching the adoption area, she ran back to her vehicle so quickly she dropped her Apple Watch in the process,” the sheriff’s office said in the release. “McManus then returned inside the building carrying the baby.”
But that alleged attempt apparently came too late.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage on the spot and determined the little girl had been left alone inside the purportedly hot car “for approximately 10 minutes on a 96-degree day.”
Deputies then placed McManus under arrest. Meanwhile, paramedics determined the infant “appeared to be okay,” the sheriff’s office said. The child was then placed in the custody of welfare agents.
As the incident concluded, however, the defendant inquired about the baby cats inside the Animal Services building.
“Even after her arrest, McManus asked about receiving free kittens because she had missed the Clear the Shelter event held in August,” the press release goes on. “We quickly declined her request and transported her to the Detention Center.”
On Friday, the defendant posted $3,000 bond and was released.
The post Grandma left infant in hot car parked between 2 patrol cars on 96-degree day and then ‘asked about receiving free kittens’ after her arrest, sheriff’s office says first appeared on Law & Crime.
