Two People Charged with Felony Child Abuse for Reportedly Leaving Children in Hot Car to Go Shopping at Target
WVLT

Two People Charged with Felony Child Abuse for Reportedly Leaving Children in Hot Car to Go Shopping at Target

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man and woman are facing charges after authorities say they left children in a hot car to shop at Target .

Officers went to the store on Clinton Highway Monday after a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper was flagged down by someone who said two children were left by themselves in a parked SUV while it was 84 degrees outside.

The trooper was able to get one of the children, a nine-year-old, to open the door in order to help them. Officers say the two children were sweating profusely, had red cheeks and were hot to the touch.

Officers say 30-year-old Mariana Castro came outside after shopping and reportedly said she left both of the children unattended in the car because the one-year-old was sick and asleep.

During the investigation, police found she tried to cover up for 38-year-old Jose Llovera (yo-vera) by saying he was with the children in the car, but video footage showed both of them get out of the car and go inside the store about 20 minutes before officers arrived.

They are each charged with two counts of felony child abuse/neglect/endangerment. Additionally, Castro is also charged with false reports.

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