Mom Who Left Baby in Hot Car Charged with Neglect

A Virginia mother who left her 8-month-old baby boy in a hot car for about 6 hours has been charged with felony child neglect.

Arlington County police arrested Zoraida Magali Conde Hernandez, 32, of Alexandria, on Saturday. She is currently being held on no bond at the Arlington County Detention Facility.

Police said Hernandez drove her Arlington workplace around 9 a.m. Friday and forgot she had left her son, Nathan, in the car. She left work around 3:30 p.m. and drove to pick up her 2-year-old daughter from daycare in Alexandria, according to charging documents. At that point she found Nathan still in his carseat. The baby was not breathing.

Hernandez immediately drove to INOVA Alexandria Hospital. The baby was pronounced dead a short time later.

Nathan had a body temperature of 108 degrees, the charging documents state.

Hernandez is due back in court Wednesday morning.

Police recommend that parents of young children be extra careful during hot summer months. "Slow down and be careful.... Try not to let things get too busy," said Lt. Mark Bergin of the Alexandria Police Department.

Also on Friday, a 16-month-old girl died after being left in a car for about four hours in Baltimore.

According to KidsAndCars.org, approximately 38 children die from being trapped inside hot cars every year.

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