A 9-year-old girl's body temperature spiked to a dangerous 104 degrees after police say her caregiver left her locked inside a sweltering car while shopping at a Home Depot in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, authorities said.
June Cooper King, 78, has been charged with unlawful conduct toward a child in connection with the incident, according to an Horry County Police Department incident report.
Officers responded to the Home Depot on Saturday around 4:30 p.m., located approximately 15 miles southwest of Myrtle Beach. Upon arrival, they found the girl and a dog locked inside the vehicle, police said.
Background
Investigators spoke with King, who allegedly admitted she turned off the car engine before leaving the victim and family dog inside while she went into the store to shop. "She stated that she did not think the amount of time she was in the store would cause any issues to the victim or the dog," officers wrote in the incident report.
The duration King reportedly spent inside the Home Depot remains unclear, but authorities say temperatures outside had climbed into triple digits at the time of the rescue.
The Investigation
First responders found the child drenched in sweat and struggling to breathe when they arrived on scene. Paramedics worked approximately 30 minutes to stabilize her before transporting her to a hospital for treatment, according to police documentation.
Medics recorded the girl's body temperature at 104 degrees—a level considered severely dangerous by medical professionals. The victim also had difficulty drinking water independently due to heat exhaustion symptoms, officers noted.
King's husband arrived at the scene and retrieved both his wife's vehicle and the dog. King was taken into custody and booked at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, where she has since posted a $25,000 bond and been released.
The relationship between King and the child has not been detailed in available police records.
Key Takeaways
- June Cooper King, 78, charged with unlawful conduct toward a child after allegedly leaving a 9-year-old locked in a hot car at Home Depot
- Child's body temperature reached 104 degrees; outside temperatures were above 100 degrees
- Girl and dog rescued from vehicle by Horry County Police around 4:30 p.m. Saturday
- King posted $25,000 bond and was released from J. Reuben Long Detention Center
What's Next
Court dates for King have not yet been publicly scheduled. The investigation remains ongoing as police continue to gather details about the circumstances leading up to the rescue.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Horry County Police Department.