Raleigh mom charged with leaving infant in hot car
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A Raleigh mom has been charged with child abuse after she reportedly left her infant child in a hot car for more than 20 minutes.
Arrest warrants show Sonya Harrell Talbot, 37, was charged with misdemeanor child abuse on Thursday.
An unidentified witness was the one who called 911 to report the crime.
"We pulled up actually directly next to the car and I heard a baby crying," the witness said. "It turns out it was in the car next to us, screaming its head off. We found out the car was locked, wasn't on, and the windows weren't down."
Raleigh police said the infant boy is almost 3 months old and was not harmed.
"I'm very happy to know that the baby was out and crying and seemed fairly safe," the witness shared. "And then the EMTs came, checked him out, and said that his vitals and everything were okay."
Talbot, of Mine Shaft Road in Raleigh, spoke with ABC11 Friday afternoon at her home. She indicated the incident was an accident.
"The child is great and God took care of my baby," Talbot said. "There is no way I would hurt my baby."
Talbot also told ABC11 about her sleep schedule.
"I have a newborn. I haven't been getting much sleep," Talbot explained. "I have two other children so I haven't been able to sleep during the day."
The witness said she can give Talbot the benefit of the doubt.
"The mother needs to reevaluate her choices. And whether it was an accident or it was, 'Oh well we'll be in and out' type thing, I think that the child and all her children should still be with their family."
