News

Mother arrested after leaving toddler in hot car

By Lightning Reports, Published: July 11, 2015

Sheriff's deputies arrested a mother who they said left a 2-year-old in a car for nearly 45 minutes while she shopped at a supermarket on Friday afternoon.

The deputies responded at 4:45 p.m. to a call from a about the child being left inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the Mills River Ingles. Deputies found the toddler. Although the windows were left partially open the deputies noted the outside temperature was 91 degrees.

The child’s mother, Orfilia Sanchez Diaz, 33, of 36 Joanna Lane, Pisgah Forest, was inside the store shopping and was arrested by deputies when she returned to the vehicle. Sanchez Diaz told deputies her child had just fallen asleep and she thought she could leave the child in the vehicle while she quickly went in the store to buy groceries, the sheriff's office said in a news release. Through interviews and other investigative efforts, deputies determined the child was left in the vehicle for approximately 42 minutes.

The child was transported to Park Ridge Hospital as a precaution and is expected to make a full recovery. Once released from medical observation, the baby will remain in custody of DSS in Transylvania County. Charged with one count of misdemeanor child abuse, Sanchez Diaz was jailed under a $2500 bond in the Henderson County Detention Facility.