HIRAM, Ga. - Police in Hiram said they found two small girls sweating inside a locked in a vehicle Saturday afternoon with no adult in sight.
It happened in the parking lot of the Walmart located on Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway just after 12:30 p.m. Hiram police said they were responding to a 911 call of two young girls in a blue Hyundai Sonata with the windows rolled up and the car turned off. Police were able to talk the older girl into unlocking the door.
About a half hour later, police said the children’s mother, Ashley Lee, 34, of Dallas, arrived back at the car with a cart full of groceries. She was arrested and charged with two counts of 2nd degree cruelty to children.
Investigators estimated the inside temperature was over 100 degrees. Police said it was about 81 degrees outside at the time of the incident.
The girls, ages 4 and 7, were checked out and released to a family friend.