A Florida woman is facing a child abuse charge after police say she left her 1-year-old son alone inside a parked vehicle for nearly 30 minutes while collecting an Uber Eats order and later struggled to locate her car.
According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, the incident happened at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sunday in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Authorities identified the woman as Ly Thien Pham, 40, who was working as an Uber Eats delivery driver at the time.
Police said Pham drove to a local restaurant to pick up a customer’s food order and brought her 1-year-old son with her. Investigators allege she left the child secured in the backseat of the vehicle while she went inside the restaurant.
According to the arrest affidavit, the vehicle’s engine had been turned off, leaving the child without air conditioning during the hot afternoon. Authorities also said the vehicle’s hazard lights had been switched on before Pham entered the restaurant.
After collecting the food order, Pham reportedly told officers she could not remember where she had parked. Police said she spent nearly half an hour walking around the downtown area searching for her vehicle.
The St. Petersburg Police Department said officers eventually helped Pham locate the car. By the time they found the vehicle, the child had been alone inside for about 30 minutes.
When officers opened the vehicle, they found the toddler sweating heavily, according to police. The child was taken to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for evaluation and treatment. Officials have not released additional information about his medical condition.
Pham was arrested and booked into the Pinellas County Jail on a charge of child abuse.
Following the incident, the 1-year-old boy was placed in the care of his aunt.
Court records show that Pham posted a $10,000 bond on Monday and was released from jail. As a condition of her release, the court ordered that she have no contact with the child’s aunt regarding the child.
A future court date had not been listed in available court records, and the case remains pending. Authorities have not announced any additional charges as the investigation continues.
