Child suffers 104-degree fever after woman leaves her in hot car
Police reveals the girl and a dog were locked inside the vehicle
9-year-old girl was taken to hospital after police said she was left locked inside a hot car with a dog while a 78-year-old woman shopped at a Home Depot in South Carolina.
Authorities arrested June Cooper King, 78, and charged her with unlawful conduct toward a child following the incident in Murrells Inlet on Saturday, as per Law & Crime.
Girl rushed to hospital
According to an incident report, officers from the Horry County Police Department responded to the Home Depot at around 4:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a child and a dog trapped inside a parked vehicle.
Police said King told officers she switched off the car and left the girl and the dog inside while she went into the store. She reportedly believed the amount of time she spent shopping would not cause any harm.
Investigators have not confirmed how long the pair remained inside the vehicle.
Heat exhaustion
Officers found the girl drenched in sweat and appearing to struggle with her breathing. Paramedics determined her body temperature had climbed to 104 degrees as temperatures outside exceeded 100 degrees.
Police said the child was suffering from heat exhaustion and even had difficulty drinking water on her own. Emergency crews treated her at the scene for about 30 minutes before transporting her to hospital for further care.
The dog's condition was not disclosed.
Arrest and investigation
The incident report did not identify the relationship between King and the child.
After the emergency response, King's husband collected the vehicle and the dog, while King was taken to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. She later posted a $25,000 bond.
Authorities said her next court date had not yet been scheduled. The investigation remains ongoing.