North Carolina grandmother faces child abuse charges after leaving her infant granddaughter in a 96-degree car to browse kittens
The child is ok.
A North Carolina grandmother is facing child abuse charges after she allegedly left her 8-month-old granddaughter inside a vehicle on a 96-degree day so she could browse for kittens. According to Us Weekly, the incident took place on Thursday, September 3, when Dedra McManus drove to Union County Animal Services. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, she parked her vehicle directly between two deputies’ cars before stepping out and leaving the infant behind.
The car was turned off while the baby sat inside in the sweltering heat. Meanwhile, McManus and her friends headed into the animal shelter to look at available kittens. It’s a situation that highlights a critical need for awareness, as the risks of leaving a child in a vehicle are immediate and severe.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s. When a core body temperature reaches 104 degrees, heatstroke begins, and it can become fatal once it hits 107 degrees or higher.
Surveillance footage captured the situation
It showed the infant sitting alone in the hot car for about 10 minutes. The sheriff’s office stated that when McManus spotted three deputies approaching the adoption area, she hurried back to her vehicle so quickly that she dropped her Apple Watch. She then retrieved the child and brought her into the shelter.
While first responders who evaluated the baby determined she appeared okay, the consequences for the grandmother were swift. She was arrested at the shelter on a child abuse charge.
Even after her arrest, authorities noted that McManus remained focused on her visit to the shelter. She reportedly asked deputies if she could receive free kittens because she had missed a shelter event in August. The sheriff’s office said, “We quickly declined her request and transported her to the Detention Center.”
Following the incident, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Social Services took custody of the infant. McManus was released from jail on Friday, September 4, after posting a $3,000 bond.
The incident is a stark reminder of the dangers that experts have been highlighting for years
The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection recently issued a consumer alert emphasizing that extreme heat demands extra vigilance from everyone. While it is easy to assume that cracking a window or parking in the shade will keep a vehicle cool, these measures are not enough and ineffective.
In fact, a car can hit 109 degrees Fahrenheit after just 20 minutes in 80-degree weather. After 40 minutes, the interior can reach 118 degrees, and after an hour, it can climb as high as 123 degrees. Even at more moderate temperatures, like 60 degrees outside, a closed car can reach 105 degrees within an hour.
Tragically, these incidents happen far too often. Since 1990, at least 1,172 children have died nationwide due to pediatric vehicular heatstroke. In 2025 alone, 31 children lost their lives to heatstroke in vehicles.
Experts suggest practical steps to prevent these tragedies, such as placing a necessary item like a cell phone, purse, or keys in the back seat next to a child’s car seat. This forces you to check the back before walking away from the vehicle. Another helpful tip is to keep a stuffed toy in the car seat when it is empty, and move it to the front passenger seat as a visual reminder whenever a child is buckled in the back.
It is also vital to know the warning signs of heatstrokes in children
These include flushed skin, confusion, a lack of sweating, rapid or shallow breathing, and loss of alertness or consciousness. If you ever see an unattended child in a vehicle who appears distressed or unresponsive, the guidance is clear: call 911 immediately. Emergency personnel are trained to handle these high-stakes situations.
While the circumstances in Union County involved a human child, the danger extends to pets as well. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) notes that animals, particularly those with thick coats, short muzzles, or those who are senior or overweight, are at an even higher risk of heat exhaustion.
It is important to remember that anyone found responsible for leaving a child or pet in a hot car could face criminal charges. As Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley stated, “A parked car can quickly become life threatening even when it doesn’t feel excessively hot outside.” Keeping your community safe requires everyone to stay alert and speak up if they see a child or pet in danger.
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