KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Two adults are facing charges after a one-year-old and nine-year-old were left inside a hot car in a parking lot at a Target store in Tennessee on Monday.
According to court records, Mariana Castro, 30, of Knoxville, and Jose Llovera, 38, are both facing charges of child abuse of child abuse, neglect or endangerment of the health and welfare of a nine- to 17-year-old child and of child abuse, neglect or endangerment of a child of eight years old or younger without injury. Castro is also charged with making a false report.
A general sessions docket states that multiple officers, including a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper, and first responders with AMR arrived at the store located along Clinton Highway around 6:10 p.m. on Monday because of a report that there were two children left unattended inside a car when it was 84 degrees outside. There, someone flagged down the officers and directed them to a black Kia Soul that had its windows slightly cracked and was not running.
One of the officers made contact with the children’s mother and the trooper had the 9-year-old child open the car door so he could help them, the docket said. The narrative continued to explain that both children were sweating profusely, had red cheeks, and were hot to the touch.
Throughout the course of the investigation, officers learned that Castro had left the children inside the vehicle while she went into the store. She reportedly told officers that she did this because the one-year-old was sick and asleep, but later she recanted her statement and said she was trying to cover up for her husband, Llovera, who was supposed to be with the children but could not be found on scene when officers arrived, according to the docket.
While reviewing camera footage from the store, the officers said they observed Castro and Llovera exiting the vehicle alongside one another and entering the store around 5:52 p.m., leaving both children unattended in the vehicle.
The case was referred to the Department of Child Services, who took custody of the children as Castro and Llovera were taken into custody. As of Wednesday afternoon, Knox County Court records state that both Castro and Llovera are being held at the Knox County Detention Center. They are expected to appear in court on Thursday, April 17.