One Indiana woman is gunning for world’s most reckless mom title after she left her older boy inside a locked car, without the windows open, as she was being interviewed by the Department of Child Services in relation to her younger child.
It happened in Anderson, Indiana, Fox 59 reports. Jennifer K. Ost, 27, had given birth 4 days prior to the incident and had discharged the newborn out of the hospital against medical advice. She was scheduled for an interview with a DCS at Community Pediatrics, where she showed up late.
The reason for her delay would be revealed more than 2 hours later, after police were able to locate her and inform her that her older boy had been found inside a locked car. As Ost was still being interviewed (and was acting very “belligerent” towards the doctor that had examined her newborn, according to the report), the hospital received a call about a boy being found locked inside a car.
The hospital alerted the police, who ran the license plate and it came back to Ost. Police say that it was 86 degrees outside and the boy was inside the car without a single window cracked open. He was on a cellphone watching movies and was “sweating profusely.” He also appeared distressed.
Police showed up and arrested Ost at the DCS. She calmly explained to them that she was running late for the appointment and, because her older son didn’t want to come with, she decided to leave him in the car. She didn’t imagine any harm could come to him if he stayed there for a couple of hours.
“When questioned, Ost claimed that the child did not want to come into the appointment with her, so she decided to leave him in the car,” Fox 59 notes.
“Madison County DCS was notified and met with police at Community Hospital,” adds the report. “Ost was arrested and charged with neglect of a dependent and both children were taken into DCS care.”
So far this year, 21 children have died after being intentionally left or forgotten inside hot cars. When temperatures outside soar, even a few minutes in a locked car can make the difference between life and death.
The reason for her delay would be revealed more than 2 hours later, after police were able to locate her and inform her that her older boy had been found inside a locked car. As Ost was still being interviewed (and was acting very “belligerent” towards the doctor that had examined her newborn, according to the report), the hospital received a call about a boy being found locked inside a car.
The hospital alerted the police, who ran the license plate and it came back to Ost. Police say that it was 86 degrees outside and the boy was inside the car without a single window cracked open. He was on a cellphone watching movies and was “sweating profusely.” He also appeared distressed.
Police showed up and arrested Ost at the DCS. She calmly explained to them that she was running late for the appointment and, because her older son didn’t want to come with, she decided to leave him in the car. She didn’t imagine any harm could come to him if he stayed there for a couple of hours.
“When questioned, Ost claimed that the child did not want to come into the appointment with her, so she decided to leave him in the car,” Fox 59 notes.
“Madison County DCS was notified and met with police at Community Hospital,” adds the report. “Ost was arrested and charged with neglect of a dependent and both children were taken into DCS care.”
So far this year, 21 children have died after being intentionally left or forgotten inside hot cars. When temperatures outside soar, even a few minutes in a locked car can make the difference between life and death.