A Texas mother is facing charges for the death of her toddler after claiming she forgot the child was left in a hot car.
Hilda Ann Adame, 33, was arrested and charged with injury to a child, serious bodily injury and abandonment, endangerment of a child and imminent bodily injury, the Corpus Christi Police Department said in a press release on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
The department added that Adame’s 22-month-old child Harley Adame had been “left in a vehicle.” Adame went to work but forgot that she was supposed to take the toddler to daycare on Kostoryz Road, reports KIII TV, citing a probable cause statement released by Corpus Christi Police Department officials. Adame works for Communities in Schools, a nonprofit that helps at-risk students, per the outlet.
“Harley was asleep in the vehicle when Hilda arrived at Tom Browne at 0800hrs where she works, and she forgot Harley was in the vehicle and proceeded to go into the school,” an arrest affidavit reads, reports KRIS TV.
The toddler was left in Adame’s vehicle around 8 a.m. according to the arrest affidavit. It wasn’t until “about 1:29 pm [when] officers were dispatched to 4301 Schanen Blvd (Tom Browne Middle School),” per the press release.
child in car — stock image.
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Adame reportedly then went into the school with Harley to get help.
Once CCPD and the Corpus Christi Fire Department arrived on the scene, they were directed to the toddler, who they saw was actively receiving CPR by the school nurse, the press release said.
The child was then taken to Driscoll Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 1:53 p.m., reports KIII TV.
“CCFD transported the 22-month-old infant to a local hospital where they were later pronounced deceased,” per the press release.
Corpus Christi first responder.
KIII 3 News
“Corpus Christi ISD and school officials are aware of a young child being found in a hot car Tuesday at Tom Browne Middle School. We want to express our gratitude to those who swiftly responded upon learning of this crisis, including school staff as well as district police and local law enforcement,” CCISD Chief Communications Officer Leanne Libby said in a statement, per KIII TV.
On Tuesday, the City of Corpus Christi issued an excessive heat warning after the National Weather Service forecasted that above-average temperatures and an abundance of moisture across South Texas would result in a dangerous heat index for the week.
“Heat index values are expected to range up to 118°F today and 115°F tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 21),” the advisory said.
PEOPLE reached out to Corpus Christi’s Police Media Relations Office for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
It is not immediately known if Adame has legal counsel representing her.
