Columbia woman accused of leaving child alone in hot car
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Boone County prosecutors charged a woman Wednesday after she allegedly left an 8-year-old child alone in a vehicle while she went inside a store.
According to a probable cause statement, Kathryn Taylor, 33, went inside the Dollar General on Paris Road on Tuesday afternoon, which was forecasted to be 93 degrees.
An employee told investigators the child was outside alone for about 30 minutes. The child came into the store "trembling" and appeared to be terrified, according to the court document. Around the same time, employees said Taylor was seen trying to steal merchandise from the store.
Taylor allegedly sent the child back outside while she spoke with employees.
According to court documents, Taylor left the store and went with the child to Ballenger Liquor. Officers said while she was inside the store, the child used her phone to text someone to pick them up. That person picked up the child and all three went back to Taylor's home.
Investigators said Taylor admitted to experiencing a "manic high" and said that the events of the day were a "blur." After Taylor was arrested, police said they found Suboxone, a schedule III controlled drug, in her purse.
Online court records say Taylor faces a felony count each of endangering the welfare of a child and possession of a controlled substance. The records said her bond was set at $10,000.
