VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida grandmother is being charged with neglect after a 2-year-old was found locked in a hot car Tuesday (July 2).
According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, the car was parked in full sun with no shade, it wasn't running, and the windows were cracked. The outside temperature at the time was 91 degrees, with a heat index of 101 degrees.
The child was inside a car parked in a Publix parking lot in Ormond Beach and reportedly "appeared lethargic."
The Publix manager reached in to unlock the car and took the child into the store to cool off.
The grandmother, later identified as Elena Grady, 63, took custody of the child and left the store.
Grady was later located and charged with child neglect. She was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail where she was booked and released overnight.
Deputies want to remind the public to avoid leaving children, pets, and vulnerable adults in hot vehicles, even if only for a few minutes, to avoid tragedy.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.
