Mother Leaves Baby In Freezing Car At Wrentham Outlets

WRENTHAM (CBS) – A Rhode Island woman was charged after leaving her baby unattended in a car at the Wrentham outlets in freezing temperatures.

A shopper said that just after noon on Tuesday they saw a baby unattended and crying inside a car that was parked in a handicap spot.

Wrentham Police said the 8-month-old baby's mother eventually came to the car and began talking to the shopper, who had called 911.

"Investigation at the scene, using mall cameras, determined she was away from the baby for about ten minutes," Wrentham Police Dep. Chief William McGrath said.

Police transported the baby to Norwood Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Department of Children and Families was notified and is investigating.

The mother, 27-year-old Yao Liu from East Providence, was not arrested but is being charged with child neglect and child endangerment. She is being summonsed to appear in court.

The baby's father said it was a mistake, and Liu just did not want to bring the child out into the cold.

"The baby's really good, she's not hurt," the father said. "I know it was wrong, but she don't know."

Police say that's no excuse for reckless behavior.

"An unattended eight month old in a parking lot is just a bad idea all around," McGrath said.