98-Year-Old Woman Left in Hot Truck at Casino, Son Charged

A North Carolina man who allegedly left his 98-year-old mother alone for five hours in a truck at the Maryland Live! Casino in Hanover was arrested Monday. 

The arrest is the most recent case where Maryland authorities have charged suspects with leaving dependents, mostly children or pets, inside vehicles as summer temperatures climb. 

Recent cases include:

• A Rockville woman was charged last week with second-degree attempted child abuse, reckless endangerment and neglect of a minor. The mother allegedly left her 7-year-old son and his puppy alone in a car at Lakeforest Mall while she shopped. Montgomery County Police found a bowl of water for the dog in the car. 

• On July 15, Anne Arundel County Police broke a window out of a pickup truck to rescue a dog in distress when its owner couldn’t be found. The owner was cited for leaving the animal alone in the truck.

In the casino case, Anne Arundel County Police responded to a 911 call from a bystander to check on the elderly woman inside a truck in the casino’s parking garage. The woman’s son, who was driving the truck, went into the casino, reportedly leaving her alone in the parked vehicle for nearly five hours.

The woman, from Raleigh, NC, is confined to a wheelchair and is incapable of providing for her own basic needs, authorities said. 

An empty soda can was the only sign of food or drink police found in the truck. The air temperature at the time of the report was 81 degrees, and the victim was found inside the vehicle with one window partially open.

The woman at first seemed confused and incoherent when replying to an officer’s questions. As the conversation continued, she became more lucid and was able to help police locate her son. Once officers reached the son on his cell phone, he returned to the vehicle and was arrested.

Dwight Ridgeway McGinnis Jr., 67, of 6106 Tipping Circle in Raleigh, NC, was charged with vulnerable adult neglect. He was also served with an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court for a driving suspended charge. 

McGinnis' mother was given water and Anne Arundel County EMS examined her; they determined she was not in medical distress. The Department of Social Services was informed of the incident.

Related Patch stories:

Mom Leaves 7-Year-Old and His Puppy in Hot Car: Police

Police Rescue Dog in Heat Distress, Cite Owings Mills Owner