Crime & Safety

Grandmother Left 2-Year-Old In 130 Degree Car: Police

He was left in the sweltering car for more than 24 minutes, police say.

GEORGETOWN, TX — A woman left her two-year-old grandchild in a sweltering car for more than 24 minutes on Friday, according to police, where the temperature reached 130 degrees. She's being charged with abandoning and endangering a child.

Leia Payne, 54, told police she left the boy in the car unintentionally and that she was only in the store for a few minutes. Police discovered by watching surveillance footage that she was in the store for 24 minutes. The temperature of the van, 130 degrees, was read after the doors were opened, meaning the boy was sitting in temperatures above 130.

Georgetown police were notified around 4:50 p.m. that the boy was stuck inside the car in front of a store at 1019 W. University Ave., CBS Austin reported. A witness told police they saw the boy in the car was "red, sweating and calling for help."

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Police found the boy in the front seat of the van secured in a child seat. He was in "extreme distress," according to police, when an officer opened an unlocked door and removed the boy.

An officer put cold water to they boy's head to help cool him down while Georgetown EMS responded, who treated the boy for heat exhaustion.

Find out what's happening in Round Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.


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