Inset: June Cooper King (J Reuben Long Detention Center). Background: Home Depot in Murrells Inlet, S.C., where King allegedly left a 9-year-old girl behind in a hot car (Google Maps).
A 78-year-old South Carolina woman allegedly left behind a 9-year-old and a dog in a car with the temperature over 100 degrees while she shopped at Home Depot, causing the girl to suffer heat exhaustion.
June Cooper King is facing a charge of unlawful conduct toward a child.
According to an incident report obtained by Law&Crime, the Horry County Police Department responded around 4:30 p.m. Saturday to the Home Depot in Murrells Inlet, which is about 15 miles southwest of Myrtle Beach. The girl and dog were “locked in the car” before they were rescued, per police.
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Cops spoke with King, who allegedly said she turned off the car and left the victim and dog inside while she walked into the store.
“She stated that she did not think the amount of time she was in the store would cause any issues to the victim or the dog,” officers wrote.
It’s unclear how long King was allegedly inside the Home Depot.
But police said the girl was drenched in sweat and appeared to have trouble breathing. Paramedics treating the girl noted her body temperature reached 104 degrees. The temperature outside had reached triple digits as well. The victim also had difficulty drinking water on her own due to the heat exhaustion, cops said.
First responders spent about 30 minutes treating the girl before taking her to a hospital. The report did not detail the relationship between King and the girl.
King’s husband picked up his wife’s car and the dog. She was taken to the J Reuben Long Detention Center, where she has since posted a $25,000 bond.
Her next court date was not immediately listed.
The post Child’s body temperature reaches 104 degrees while trapped inside hot car as 78-year-old woman shops at Home Depot: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.
