Parents under arrest for leaving baby locked in car outside Walmart

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FORT MYERS, Fla.- An 11-month-old baby was left in a locked car, under the Florida sun for nearly 40 minutes.

Witnesses say that little girl is lucky to be alive. The baby’s parents, Carl Merrickes Jr. and Lakisha Green, are facing now charges of child neglect.

According to the Fort Myers Police Department, they were called to the Walmart on Colonial Boulevard just before 1 p.m. Sunday.

“She was so red and just drenched, drenched with sweat,” said Dylcia Cornelious.

Al and Dylcia Cornelious were walking to their car when they heard a baby crying.

The couple looked inside the car next to them and saw the infant strapped in her car seat, locked in a green Oldsmobile.

Police say that’s when the couple called 911 and tried to break into the car. Another witness stopped by and was able to free the child.

“It’s still frightening to think just what could have happened,” said Dylcia Cornelious.

The child’s temperature was 101 degrees when she was rescued.

Witnesses say police had to page Merrickes and Green to finally come out of the store.

Officials say the couple also left three other children, between 3 and 9 years old, home alone for two hours that day.

Green was an employee at the Redeemer Lutheran Church Daycare. She was fired from that job and is no longer allowed on the property.

The Department of Children and Families is investigating this case. DCF tells WINK News it has looked into the parents’ past before. The children are all currently staying with family members.

 

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