A 40-year-old woman named Cara Dugan reportedly left her 3-month-old baby unattended in her pickup truck while she attended a county fair, according to authorities.
The Nebraska mother is facing charges of child abuse for reportedly leaving her 3-month-old baby unattended in a hot car while she attended a county fair, according to authorities.
A woman was taken into custody on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Merrick County Fairgrounds, according to a statement from the Merrick County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities responded to an incident at the county fair around 1:30 p.m. where an infant was found unattended in a car.
The sheriff’s office reported that the 3-month-old was discovered when a concerned individual heard the baby’s cries and diligently checked multiple vehicles nearby. According to reports, Dugan is accused of leaving her baby in her pickup truck with the engine off and windows partially open for a significant period.
According to the sheriff’s office, Dugan was inside a building, riding a horse at the time. She was apprehended and transported to the Merrick County Jail, where she was officially charged with a felony child abuse offense.
It is uncertain whether she has pleaded guilty or hired a lawyer to represent her.
The 3-month-old baby, whose gender was not disclosed, was examined at a nearby hospital, where healthcare professionals confirmed that the infant was unharmed, according to authorities. The baby was subsequently entrusted to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
On Aug. 24, the outside temperature soared to a scorching 90 degrees Fahrenheit, as reported by the sheriff’s office.