A Jonesboro woman left her infant daughter in the back seat of a vehicle in sweltering heat Wednesday afternoon while eating at a local pizzeria, police said.
The mother, 25-year-old Brittany Reeder, had traveled to Larry’s Pizza at 1841 E. Highland Drive shortly after 3 p.m. with her three children and Reeder’s aunt, according to a report.
When they arrived in a white 2015 Kia Sorento, Reeder, her two older children and the aunt went inside the restaurant. Meanwhile, the 4-month-old infant was left inside the SUV because she was asleep, Reeder later told authorities.
After about 10 to 15 minutes inside the restaurant, Reeder’s aunt questioned Reeder about the infant, prompting the mother to check on her child, police said.
Reeder then called 911 when she realized the infant was possibly in distress, appearing “very distraught” as she told responding officer Keith Baggett that the SUV had not been running and the windows were up, according to the report.
The outside temperature was reported to be 96 degrees, with a heat index of 108 degrees, the report states.
The infant, who was transported to St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, registered a core temperature of 99.9 degrees about 45 minutes after the 911 call, police said.
Authorities said the “baby’s skin was red and warm to the touch but she was not having any trouble breathing or appeared to have any obvious heat-related problems.”
“Reeder admitted responsibility and could not give a logical reason why she would leave her child in the vehicle during these conditions,” Baggett wrote in his report.
Reeder was cited on a charge of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and given a court date of Aug. 3, according to the report.
That report was later sent to the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children division for review.