A Florida woman was arrested after allegedly leaving her children inside a car for nearly 30 minutes while she shopped at a Dollar Tree store, exposing them to dangerous heat. The incident occurred on Sunday in Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers, and has raised serious concerns about child safety.
What Happened?
A concerned witness saw two young children left alone in a parked car outside the Dollar Tree on Homestead Road. The car was turned off, and the windows were not rolled down, which prompted the witness to call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
When deputies arrived, they opened the car doors and found the children, who were strapped into their seats.
Body camera footage from the incident showed deputies asking the kids if they were OK and if it was hot inside the car. The children confirmed that they were indeed hot and uncomfortable.
The Mother’s Response
Soon after the deputies began speaking to the children, their mother, 42-year-old Marianne Isnar, came out of the store. When asked how long she had been inside, Isnar claimed it was only about five minutes.
However, the deputies pointed out that the car had been off for at least 25 minutes, and they questioned her decision to leave the children in the car.
Although there were water bottles inside the car, they were empty. Deputies noted that the temperature inside the car was measured at 100 degrees, even after the doors had been open for 10 minutes. With temperatures in the upper 90s and a heat index in the triple digits, the situation was dangerously hot for the children.
Isnar’s Arrest
Deputies were shocked by Isnar’s apparent lack of remorse as they questioned her about her actions. She was arrested and charged with child neglect. Isnar was taken to the Lee County Jail, where she posted a $1,500 bond. The children were released to a family member following the incident.
Sheriff’s Statement
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno strongly condemned Isnar’s actions. He stated, “This woman chose to leave her children in a car during one of the hottest days we have had in Southwest Florida this year.
Let this serve as a clear message, we will not hesitate to hold people accountable for putting a child’s life at risk.” Marceno expressed relief that the children were unharmed but emphasized the importance of protecting children from such dangerous situations.