Mother Accused Of Leaving 1-Year-Old, Sibling In Hot Car To Shop

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — A Deerfield woman is accused of leaving her two young children — a 1-year-old and 5-year-old — unattended in the car while she shopped at a Buffalo Grove grocery store. Junglim Lee, 36, of the 200 block of Inverrary Lane, Deerfield, was arrested at 2:15 p.m. June 9 and charged with child endangerment at Woodman's Food Market, 1550 Deerfield Parkway.

A citizen called police when she noticed the two children sitting alone in the backseat of a locked car. The children did not seem to be in distress, but the oldest was sweating, according to the witness. Police said the temperature was around 82 degrees at the time.

WATCH: What Happens To You Inside A Hot Car?

Police responded to the children, who had been alone in the car at the time of their arrival approximately 15 minutes, based on a surveillance camera viewed later. Police said the children were alert, but sweating heavily and their clothing was "wet to the touch." They were placed in an air-conditioned police car and paramedics would eventually attend to the children.

When Lee exited the grocery store nearly 30 minutes after parking the car according to video surveillance, she told police she left the kids unattended for 10 minutes "because of COVID." She also said her husband was at home working and constantly taking phone calls, so she brought her children to the store.

Lee was given a $1,500 bond and a court date of June 24 in Waukegan.

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