Couple Arrested After Leaving 2-Year-Old in Hot Car at Manatee Walmart

A couple is now behind bars after authorities say they left a 2-year-old boy locked in a sweltering car while shopping in Manatee County. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reported the incident occurred around 4:10 p.m. on Sunday at a Walmart located on 53rd Avenue East.

Deputies arrived at the scene to find the child unconscious and in distress, with his face red and overheated. The boy had been left in the back seat of a locked vehicle while temperatures outside climbed. First responders quickly broke the car window to rescue the unresponsive toddler.

After being pulled from the vehicle, the child was placed in a nearby fire truck. Firefighters were able to revive him, and he began to show signs of responsiveness. The child was then transported to a local hospital for further care. Authorities have since confirmed that the boy is expected to recover.

Surveillance footage reviewed by deputies showed the child had been left inside the vehicle for approximately 30 minutes. His mother, 36-year-old Astrid Garcia Rojas, and stepfather, 37-year-old Yuannel Montes Rojas, were arrested at the scene and now face charges of aggravated child abuse.