A Maryland mother has been arrested and charged with child neglect after allegedly leaving her three young children unattended in an unlocked, running vehicle for approximately 40 minutes while she shopped at a local Walmart. The incident occurred on July 15 in Aberdeen, Maryland, as temperatures climbed to a high of 97 degrees.
Marium Khan Ghauri, 32, was arrested on Wednesday after an off-duty police officer observed the children, ages four, two, and one, alone in the car outside the Walmart store. The officer alerted the Aberdeen Police Department at around 4:40 p.m.
Ghauri reportedly told officers that she left the children in the vehicle because they were asleep. Police confirmed the car was left running but unlocked during the period the children were unattended. The region was under a heat advisory at the time, with the heat index reportedly exceeding 100 degrees.
Following an investigation, Ghauri was arrested and charged with child neglect. Court records indicate she was released on her own recognizance later that day. Her attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The three children were released into the care of their father. One witness, who identified herself as a shopper for a Walmart delivery order, claimed Ghauri was actively shopping for her order when the incident occurred. This claim has not been independently verified.
The Aberdeen Police Department used the incident to issue a warning to other parents regarding the risks associated with leaving children unsupervised in vehicles. The department stated that leaving young children unattended, even for brief periods, can pose significant risks and may lead to criminal charges.