Police: Mom says she forgot baby in car because the child was ‘so quiet’

Stock image, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A mother was cited for suspected child abuse after allegedly leaving her baby in the car at a grocery store in St. George Sunday evening.

St. George Police responded to the incident at 5:29 p.m. at the Smith’s Marketplace store, 565 S. Mall Drive.

Smith’s Marketplace parking lot, St. George, Utah, May 28, 2018 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

A witness in the parking lot said she heard a baby crying and saw a baby left in a vehicle that wasn’t running, St. George Police officer Lona Trombley said.

Police said the baby appeared to be less than a year old.

Medical personnel from Gold Cross Ambulance responded to the scene and transported the child to the hospital.

“The baby’s mother was located and she said that she forgot her baby was in the vehicle because the baby was so quiet,” Trombley said.

The mother was cited for child abuse – leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle, Trombley said.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

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24 Comments

  • Real Life May 28, 2018 at 11:31 pm

    Why was she charged, and yet the mother in Hurricane that left her child in the car (that actually died), not get charged? In fact, didn’t she get a fund raiser? Don’t get me wrong, the woman at Smith’s should get in some trouble, but what about the other woman? What’s missing here?

    • ladybugavenger May 29, 2018 at 7:20 am

      That woman was a faithful member of the LDS church and had the bishop on her side.

      This woman must not have the same influence.

      • Brian May 29, 2018 at 9:14 am

        This is such a tired, old, ridiculous comment…

        • John May 29, 2018 at 11:51 am

          Some of these commenters seem to forget all about PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY. Always blaming somebody or something else…The LDS has nothing to do with this and those who think it does are CLUELESS!

          • ladybugavenger May 29, 2018 at 1:18 pm

            It has everything to do with no charges being filed.

            Good for her,I mean. it worked out for her to not get a child neglect charge. Many are not so fortunate.

            Its child neglect. No matter who you are or what religion you are.

          • ladybugavenger May 29, 2018 at 1:21 pm

            Tell me why there was no child neglect charge on that case?

          • jaybird May 29, 2018 at 8:39 pm

            She should have been charged. And yet Im sure she will NEVER be the same after seeing the limp body of her baby daughter taken from the back seat – dead.

        • ladybugavenger May 29, 2018 at 2:30 pm

          It was the biggest miscarriage of justice in my time in st george. It might be old, but the most ridiculous part was no charges, not even a child neglect charge was filed against a person for forgetting a child in a hot car and the child died. She could have been found not guilty by a jury of her peers. But to not even have a charge or a day in court is a disgrace.

        • ladybugavenger May 29, 2018 at 2:32 pm

          All cases of this happening in your community will be compared to the hurricane mom, forever and ever Amen!

          It will never go away

      • Real Life May 29, 2018 at 10:10 am

        Well if that’s the case, and I bet your’e right, then these Mormons are just a bunch of hypocrites. Where you at Mesaman?

      • max May 29, 2018 at 10:45 am

        No matter what it is, it is the LDS churches fault. I don’t like that it is soo dang hot down here. Why cant those dang Mormons turn down the temperature!

      • John May 29, 2018 at 5:46 pm

        that isn’t what this story is about…duh!

    • Badshitzoo May 29, 2018 at 2:21 pm

      Really? Have you ever met a Mother or Father that was responsible for their own children’s death? Cause I have, a number of times, and there is nothing you can do neither for them, or too them . Hell, would be a nice vacation for them, so learn some freakin’ empathy & sympathy for these women, stop looking to assess blame, and start looking for solutions to the problem. No judge should be sentencing either of these women to jail, or prison time, for a crime that was committed with little, or no intent: Not to mention a crime that, with almost perfect certainty will never be repeated by these defendants. These women need all the help we can give them, so we don’t lose them mentally, physically, and emotionally. Their families need them as “whole” as possible, and so do we! I don’t want, as a taxpayer, to pay for any of these women, to go to jail, or their families to be split up. We will pay for it all. Statistically speaking, if they don’t receive any therapeutic counseling; they will blame each other, and eventually break apart.

  • ladybugavenger May 29, 2018 at 7:17 am

    Not buying it!

    A more plausible store is: She left vehicle running because baby was inside sleeping.

    • John May 29, 2018 at 11:48 am

      Quote from story: “A witness in the parking lot said she heard a baby crying and saw a baby left in a vehicle that wasn’t running, St. George Police officer Lona Trombley said.”

    • ladybugavenger May 29, 2018 at 1:20 pm

      I apologize, I thought I saw it was running.

      No matter how you slice a banana, it’s still a banana.

      No matter what excuse, it’s still child neglect.

      • mesaman May 29, 2018 at 9:06 pm

        This kind of thinking is typical with advanced age, Ladybug.

  • Rob83 May 29, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    Yes I agree with Ladybug, that lady that left her child to die so she could get her nails done should have been atleast cited! Every case I have ever seen, including this one obviously, the person is cited! Yeah, give the lady empathy, she lost a child, let’s hope she doesn’t end up forgetting another one of her children!!

  • ladybugavenger May 29, 2018 at 3:39 pm

    Brian and john, the eyes of the law is to be fair and just. You dont charge one for neglect (the baby died) and another you charge with neglect(the baby didnt die)

    You cannot convince me that the affiliation with the mormon church and all her supporters and the Bishop did not influence the eye of the law. Ohhh yes, dont go get the fundraiser.

    Under the same eye of the law as in that case (a blind eye) this lady should not be charged nor any other person in your community. Set her free! And give her a fundraiser. Wouldn’t that be fair?

    • John May 29, 2018 at 5:48 pm

      Every case is different by plaintiff, accusers, judge, jury and circumstances.. no two are the same. that’s why! LDS has nothing to do with it!

      • ladybugavenger June 1, 2018 at 2:55 pm

        John, you just listed court employees. That’s my point she didnt have a day in court.

        Circumstances fo not play into leaving a child in a car. There is no excuse.

        You’re right tho, others do not have the support of the bishop and the ward.

  • mmsandie May 30, 2018 at 9:08 am

    I don,t care what religion you are,, take care of your baby or dn,t have them..I,m glad she was cited . Because the woman whose baby died in hurrricane got away with death of her child.. when you get out of your car and lock it you could see the baby in the car.. the police did their job and this will be a warning to other moms to check..

  • Mike P May 30, 2018 at 12:24 pm

    What ? Nobodys going to blame Trump for this?

  • comments May 30, 2018 at 7:59 pm

    If ur gonna leave babies, dogs, etc in the car at least have the decency to leave the a/c running, but best not to do it. It just occurred to be that poor ol’ Dump (striker4) may have been brain damaged from being left in a hot car as a child. Just don’t do it. You don’t want your children to end up like him, the poor little thing. ?????????????

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