Collinsville Mom Arrested After Police Say She Left Her Kids In A Hot Car

A Collinsville mom is out of jail on bond after police said she left her kids in her hot car while shopping at the grocery store.

There were five children found inside the car between the ages of 10 months and 6 years old. Collinsville police hope this mom’s arrest reminds people how dangerous and potentially deadly it is to leave a child in a hot car.

“She didn’t think it was a big deal at all, accused us of wasting her time,” Chief Matthew Burke said.

Collinsville Police Chief Matthew Burke said staff at a grocery store called them on Saturday, concerned about five children who were left alone in a hot car.

“The windows were down, but it was extremely hot that day, so they were sweating. One of the children because of the heat, started to have a bloody nose,” Chief Burke said

Minutes after officers arrived on the scene, they said Carlin came out of the grocery store and told police her air conditioning didn’t work, and she only ran inside for a few minutes.

While questioning her, Chief Burke said carlin became agitated and refused to cooperate, even trying to get in the car and leave. She was arrested for child endangerment and obstruction of an officer.

Jenny Rollins, a Child Passenger Safety Coordinator for Safe Kids, said in this heat, it only takes about ten minutes for a car to heat up 19 degrees, which could lead to heatstroke.

“If a child’s temperature reaches 104 degrees, that can have negative effects like seizures, if it reaches to 107 degrees, that’s when we start to see organs break down,” Rollins said.

Carlin’s kids were released to a relative. Chief Burke said there’s just no excuse for this to happen.

“I get the predicament that she is in, but if she can’t do it, she needs to make other arrangements,” Chief Burke said.           

Chief Burke said the kids were treated for heat exposure and were cooled down and given water.