7-Month-Old Baby Found in Hot Car

posted July 28, 2015

A 7-month-old baby boy was found unresponsive in a hot car just after noon Tuesday after the baby’s mother went into a 10 a.m. meeting at a local title company. The infant was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition.

Police believe the child was in the car for two hours. The temperature outside was reportedly in the mid-80s at the time and police said the car was locked with the windows rolled up.

Joliet Deputy Chief of Investigations Alan Roechner said before the woman’s meeting, she was with her boyfriend and children, a 3 year old, a 12 year old and the 7-month-old baby. She dropped them off at her residence and thought the 7 month old was with her boyfriend, who is the father.

“While she was at the meeting, she received several phone calls from the boyfriend,” Roechner said. ”She was unable to answer due to the fact that she was in the meeting. At noon when she left the meeting, she listened to the messages and realized the child wasn’t with the father.”

The woman ran out to her vehicle and found the child unresponsive. She removed the child and contacted a parking enforcement officer in the area who called police.

Police and the fire department responded to the call and were able to revive the infant at the scene. The child was taken to a hospital and went into cardiac arrest, according to Roechner. The baby was stabilized and then taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center.

The woman’s name has not been released and she is no longer in police custody. Roechner said the decision to file charges will be up to the state’s attorney’s office.

• JULY 29 UPDATE: The baby’s condition is improving » read more