Parents Leave Infant in Car While Gambling at Ardmore Casino

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

ARDMORE, Oklahoma -- Ardmore police said the parents of a 17-month-old girl left her locked in their car while they gambled at a local casino.

A security guard at the casino spotted the infant in the car and called police.

"Well, apparently, the parents had locked the child in the car while they went inside to gamble at the casino," said Ardmore Police Sgt. Eric Hamblin.

Katherine Moody, 31, and Charles Ward, 45, both now face charges of child neglect.

The infant was reported to be unharmed.

Police said they think the child was locked in the car for at least 30 minutes.

"The inside temperature of a vehicle can skyrocket very quickly. Within a half hour it can be 110,115 degrees," Hamblin said.

The Chickasaw Nation said they also want the couple banned from its casinos.

"That would be a permanent, lifetime ban from any, not just from Gold Mountain, but any casino owned by the Chickasaw nation," said Kym Koch Thompson, Gold Mountain Spokesperson.

The young girl is now in the custody of another family member.