So, why is the baby alone in the car? >> Simple. >> So, we just got to >> smash the windows and make sure the kids are okay. >> She was drinking. They They both have drinks at the bar. >> Is she going there or me? >> Y'all both might be. >> This is childish. >> I'll take all the responsibility. >> Friday, September 13th, 2024. Palm Coast, Florida. The evening at a local bar was unfolding normally until a 911 call reported something far more serious in the parking lot. An infant left alone inside a running vehicle. The doors were unlocked. The windows were fogged from the heat. And what seemed like a momentary lapse of judgment would quickly reveal a pattern of neglect that would put the parents version to the test. I'm Tyler and this is your daily dose of crime. Did you know that for just $6.99 a month, you can join Tyler's Crime Unit today, and get access to exclusive cases, extended cuts, early access to materials and a weekly vote on what we're going to cover next. Your contributions help us to keep funding these videos, and getting exclusive content just for you. Join today and become a member of Tyler's Crime Unit. Thanks for being here and supporting the channel. Okay. >> Do me a favor. Where's your car? Right there. >> Uh, go grab it real quick. Been for discussion. Not only that, but that's unless professionally. >> So, we just got to >> smash the windows and make sure the kids are okay. >> Really close. >> And then >> it's been running the whole time >> and no one's been here. Nobody's come out to the vehicle. >> Well, the guy in there. >> He did. He came out and like looked in or something. >> Yeah, he came out. >> Older white male, >> huh? >> Older white male. >> Yeah, I think he had a hat on. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Like the DJ? >> Yes. >> Okay. Give me two seconds. Officers found the child asleep in the back seat. The hot air trapped inside the vehicle indicated it had been closed for quite some time without proper ventilation. Although the infant appeared stable, the scene exposed a critical risk. In a few more moments, the environment could have turned deadly. A witness confirmed that the father had only checked on the child once during the entire night, while the car remained unlocked and vulnerable to anyone passing by. That's what we're doing. >> Obviously, I'm being >> Yes, >> we will discuss it all in just a minute. >> You are allowed. >> Well, it's my fault for coming here. He was here 3 hours ago. >> He was here 3 hours ago. Okay. >> With the the friend. I let him go because he's a little bit stressed out for the day. >> Okay. >> So, I let him go here. But for me and the baby wake up and he starts eating, so he keeps crying. So, what I do is make a ride, you know, ride here and then I had to pee and get cash from him. >> Do you not talk to her? I >> don't care if she's your wife. >> I was trying to make them let you go because it is my fault. Actually, it is my fault for coming here. >> But you have no right to talk to her right now. Babe, it's okay. >> Hey, >> I'm so sorry. >> It's okay. >> Yes, it is. If um I'll take all the responsibility. >> Hey, uh go ahead and stuff him in the car. >> Whatever. >> Norman and I said stop. >> I is he going or me? >> Y'all both might be. This is child. >> I know. I just had to be >> Okay. I can't look. I have the same as you. >> What? >> You trying to make me grab his phone? I can't. I have the same as you. >> But I Yes. He was here 3 hours ago and then I decided >> So he's been here for a while. >> Yeah. >> And then you came and pick him up. >> I was going to if he's ready, but if not, I'm going to CVS to get what my baby needs, >> but I have to get cash from him cuz I do not work right now. >> Okay. All right. Hang tight. The adults were identified as 28-year-old Clarissa Finnegan and 60-year-old Norman Finnegan Jr. with Norman already in custody. Clarissa became the focus of questioning. Her statements quickly proved to be inconsistent. At first, she insisted she had only been inside the bar for a few minutes, then extended the timeline and eventually admitted to going back and forth several times between the bar and the vehicle. That instability in her account raised serious questions for the investigators. Exactly how long had the child been left alone and under what conditions? Her lack of clarity undermined credibility and revealed a dynamic where she tried to absorb the blame while Norman shouted comments from a distance, escalating the tension. It's just while we're investigating, we're not going to have somebody yelling at us across the parking lot and telling us Yeah. >> They're not going to dictate how we do our job. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> All right. What else did she have to say? >> What >> What all did she have to say? >> She's saying it's not his fault. like he's been here drinking for several hours and she came up here to check on him and to pick him up and then she said she went inside to pee, but um we know she was at the bar drinking because there's a drink at the bar. >> Yep. Um but she saying it's all her fault and she's owning up to all of it. >> When the same thing that he's been here for a lot longer and then she recently came up here, but she was drinking. They they both have drinks of the board >> and like I said we can discuss the situation. Okay. >> I don't want to discuss them until I read this. Okay. >> So you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and won't be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him or her present with you while you are being questioned. You cannot afford to hire a lawyer when we be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish. You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. Do you understand these rights as I've explained them to you? >> Yes. with these rights in mind. Are you willing to answer my questions now? Okay. So, how how did we get to where we're at right now where there is both of you inside of a bar? >> Because there's a child in the car. >> Yeah. Uh this bar is like before I even get pregnant, it's already I was known with everyone like say hi first before I leave. And then I asked him if he's ready. He's trying to pay his uh bill, you know, the paper. Yeah. Stab. Yeah. He start to pay that and we believe. I think they were ready. So I went to pay and then leave my phone in the safe where he's sitting at and then I just run here because the baby is alone. Yeah. So I was going to grab it back just to make sure he's >> So why is the baby alone in the car? >> Because I couldn't bring him with me inside because it's smoking bar. >> It's a bar in general, >> right? A smoking bar >> where a kid does not belong. >> Right. I just had to pay so bad like for me and I have to get a caut from him if he's not ready to go home yet. >> Once advised of her rights, Clarissa agreed to cooperate. Instead of offering precise details, she leaned on justifications, as if her willingness to answer could downplay the seriousness of the situation. Investigators saw in her attitude a tendency to minimize obvious risks and redirect attention towards secondary details. They also detected a deeper psychological pattern. Her insistence on protecting Norman at all costs, even if it meant taking the full blame on herself. This suggested that the negligence was not an isolated mistake, but part of a shared dynamic sustained by dependency. >> So, when did you guys get here? >> Like maybe 10 minutes when you guys are out here. Like I said, he was paying his tab, maybe getting ready to go and we go >> cuz you can also pretend that you already have the the paper ready, the one you sign and then you give them the >> Actually, if you look in the paper, it would should say the time there that he was trying to tap out cuz we wanted to go home and I didn't mind if he didn't want to leave. So, did you guys get here at the same time? >> No, separately. Okay. >> He was here 3 hours or more. >> Okay. He's been here for 3 hours or more. >> Mhm. >> And you said his vehicle's where? >> Oh, black. >> The black vehicle over there. >> Yeah. Um, >> yeah, the black. >> Black. And >> yeah, I should never come. >> What time did you get there? What time I got here? I know it's not like long because I just happened to come here because I want to get cash from him. That way we can go to CVS and get my baby needs. But if he's ready to go home, then I'll take him with me. It's all this. >> But um >> So how long do you think? >> 10 minutes maybe. And when you heard here and then I had to be real fast. Yeah. Then I >> So you think you've been here 10 minutes? >> Yes. Okay. You're saying you came here to get cash from him? >> Yeah, I was going to get cash if he has it and if he's ready to go home, then we can all go home. He said yes. And so he paying his tab. I think if uh you go to the bartender and um ask for the paper bill, you know what he paid for or what he's about to pay. It should say the time there's somewhere that what time is cashing out. So, we're just waiting on her to finish with other customer in the room. >> And because I known the people there, so I say, "Okay, bye. Bye." Yeah. >> Okay. Is there a reason there was a drink in front of you? >> Oh, well, I think I will do one, but then I don't really want it. So, it's not like I drink it. So, I said, "Okay, just to say okay to people and then I leave. I'll go leave cuz I think he can drive. He can manage." Yeah. So, I'm still okay with the baby if even if I go to CVS or not. So it didn't matter to me. It just he's sitting and crying all the time at home. So I didn't know how to stop him sometimes. So then I just give him a ride here and there. Yeah. Even though he's not here. >> Okay. >> So even for 10 minutes. >> Yeah. >> You left him. In your mind it was 10 minutes, right? That's what you're saying. >> I actually check checking in between cuz I wanted to see if he's paying or or ready to go and then I come back. I had to run back. Yeah. I asked him, "Are you ready to go?" So, yeah. And he's paying the tub. >> You're checking on what in between? Checking on the child in between. >> Yeah. I go back. I go one out here and then after I pee, I go back in here and then I ask him if he's ready to go. He's paying the tub. And then I come out again. I even left my phone cuz I I see people. So, I like come back out real fast. So, I said I got to go. >> So, but he was been here for a while. They even have a camera there. You might check. Yeah. So, so when we got here, >> so I I was asking the um the other >> to let him go. It is my fault. So, I'll take the responsibility. >> So, when we got here, what were you doing inside? >> I was talking to them and see if he's ready to go. He's paying the sub and we're Oh, >> okay. >> Yeah. >> So, did you So, when you went in to use the restroom, was that at a separate time? No, I just left my phone because I go run faster. And then I uh said I hold on. I'll come back because I can't hear the bargain. >> And then I see him crashing. I said, "Okay, I'll wait. Let's go." Even if he's driving right behind him. I'm actually hurting a little bit, but I think it's my the way I put my hands back. I'm okay. [Music] But that's all I wanted to know cuz it is actually my fault. I should have never come here. >> Well, >> cuz I I did. It's my fault. I let him go out by himself. Yeah, cuz he had maybe a bad day like everybody does. >> At any point, did he come out to check on the child? >> Yeah, one time >> in between >> him. No, me. Are you talking about me or him? >> No, he's there cuz I'm responsible cuz I just wanted to see if he has cash. If not, and he's not ready to go, we'll go. But he was paying the tub already. So we will go even if if have to follow us or he we follow you. It didn't matter. >> Definitely. >> Yeah. >> So were you coming here to pick him up cuz you knew? >> No, I needed a cash. I don't work. I'm sorry. It might be embarrassing for the >> cash. So if he's ready to go then we will all go. But if he's not ready to go, I respect that since I let him go out. >> Yeah. >> So now I feel not like answering like could you get in touch with him another way? Was he not answering his phone? I didn't uh message that I'm on my way here, but I said we were going out. So, yeah, just go out because he's eating and he's crying a lot at home. >> Yeah. >> As questioning continued, Clarissa's account became increasingly fragile. What she had initially described as a brief absence unraveled into a fragmented and contradictory narrative, backed up by witness statements who had seen her enter the bar only moments before the police arrived. Her shifting timeline showed more than simple memory lapse. It reflected an effort to adapt her version to the pressure of the moment. By insisting on carrying all the responsibility, she confirmed that preserving the couple's relationship took priority over recognizing the danger their child was exposed to. Investigators interpreted this as evidence of a family structure where avoidance and denial outweighed parental responsibility. >> Thank you. I was just wanted to see if there's anybody that'll talk. >> He's adorable. >> Hello. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> So, is there anybody who's going to be willing to talk to me >> about what? >> About uh Mr. Finnegan, how long they've been here? >> I mean, she just got here. >> Literally just got here to pick him up. >> Like, I honestly got >> She walked in the door. I walked outside to set up my turn table gear which takes about 10 minutes and I had just set up and having too many problems having to stop. She might have been here 5 minutes. >> Yeah. Like that's that's her one and only shot. She didn't even like swear to God. >> Like legit for real. >> Who is that you're talking? >> The police. >> Oh, okay. Do you see there? >> No. >> Do you see? >> He called and he's on the list to pick up the child. >> Him and his wife are the god parents. Uh, this is >> we'll get No, we'll get that figured out. >> Yeah, >> it's kind of >> Yeah, I mean they're they're on standby. They're close by to come pick their uh to go >> that fall asleep. Yeah, but if we're home, we cry a lot cuz I think the gums is bothered. >> Yeah. [Music] >> All right. Is there going to talk to you situations? [Music] >> You have the right to remain silent on anything you say or will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him or her present with you while you're being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any question if you wish. You can decide at any time to exercise his rights and not answer >> any questions or make any understand. >> Do you understand your rights as I explain them to you? >> Yes, I do. >> With these rights in mind, are you willing to answer my questions? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, help me understand how we come to where you and your wife are in a bar and the child at the bar >> all week long work and everything else. She's been watching the kid yesterday, today. I've been watching and very upset when I'm not around. So, she's first time mother. Okay. So, she like when he starts crying and freaking out, she doesn't know what to do. So, immediately she texts me or messaged me from, you know, handling stuff over at 1405 doing payroll or whatever or out getting groceries or whatever I'm doing. >> So, tonight I asked for 2 hours just to go out. I got here 8:30 tonight. And she came in roughly, what time is this now? Probably half hour ago, according to say it was 15 minutes that you guys got here. And she came in and she says, "You ready to go?" And Glenn, the owner, he says, "You going home?" I said, "Yes." Glenn went over to 1405. I said, "I'm paying the tab and going." As I'm paying my tab, I said, "Where's Michael?" She says, he said, "The car's running air conditioning there." says, "Dad leaves him in the car like that." So she walked outside, checked on him. I says, "He's sleeping." She says, "Yes." I said, "P my tab to Cory in there." Cory was working on my physically working on my tab to get me out of here and your officer walked in and pulled me out. Now my freaks out when I'm not around because I'm with him so much and he's like a daddy's boy and I know how to soo him because he doesn't self soo right now. He's only 6 months old so he doesn't self soo that she doesn't understand that like rubbing his back and rubbing his head making him sleep keeping him on schedule with a bottle and with sleep. So basically at this this point anytime he wakes up she freaks out gives him a bottle or lets him stay awake and he starts crying and freaking out. So she came here to get me. Norman's turn to speak did little to clarify the events though he had tried to present himself as consistent. He described himself as the only one capable of calming and caring for the baby. An assertion that revealed a paradox. While claiming to be indispensable, he had chosen to remain inside the bar. His emotional framing positioned his bond with the child as justification, but the reality showed otherwise. For investigators, the point was not his timeline, but the way that he crafted a narrative to soften responsibility and align his story with Clarissa's. >> I was sitting inside. The baby was >> just fussing and and she doesn't really know how to handle this. I first born child. >> I was sitting at the bar. I said, "Okay, great. We're paying attention." You said she texted you. >> She texted me earlier. Um, what are you doing? I said nothing. Sitting here. She says, "Who's here?" I said, "Nobody." And then I actually took a picture of Glenn. Cuz I said, "Glenn just walked in, took a picture of Glenn, sent it to her." She says, "Of course." She says, "So, what are you doing?" I said, "Nothing. I'm just hanging out here. I'm having a drink and a shot and coming home." And then she showed up here. She walked in the door and left the car running with the AC on with car. And I said to Cory, "Pass me out, pay my tab." And I said, "Go check out." She went outside, checked on my came back in said, I said, "Everything good?" He said, "Is he sleeping?" "Yes, he's sleeping." And I was paying my tab in your office so walked in. >> Did you at any point come out to check on >> myself? >> Yeah. >> Within the 10 minutes she was here? No. I made sure she did twice. >> So she's only been here for 10 minutes. >> Excuse me. >> You're saying she's only been here for 10 minutes? She was only here at the point where she came into the bar. She was here 10 minutes, maybe 12 minutes, something like that because if you ask Cory, I was sitting there by myself and Glenn just left and she come walking and shot sat down. Cory gave her a drink. She didn't even touch it. Didn't even touch it. And I said, "Where's my check on him? Make is he sleeping?" "Yes." "Okay, let me pay my tab." And I went to she was toting up my tab and the officer walked in. There was like might have been between seven and like 13 or 14 minutes and she checked on him twice. >> I don't want my kid in a car in any weather like in Florida weather heat or anything like that left by himself cuz he wakes up he'll freak out. He'll start crying like where's mommy and daddy? And I don't I I don't believe in that at all. >> Okay. So she came out and checked on him twice within the >> 10. >> Yeah. Within like 10 minutes she she come in check she came in. >> You know around what time that was when she first got here. >> I didn't even see my watch. I don't my glasses my glasses are inside. What time is it now? >> It's past 11. >> It's after 11. She probably got here 10:45. No. Sorry. Uh 10:45 is when 10:30 we got pulled out. I got pulled out probably 10:00. She came out of the house. She came to get me. My car is on the side over there with the keys stuffed in in the console. So she came to get me. >> Okay. You said she's been here since >> she hasn't physically been here. She went inside to check on me. check on my go back inside to make sure my tab was being cashed out. The bartender gave her a drink. She did not touch it and she came back outside and as when she came outside, your officer walked in and asked for me. >> When pressed further, Norman adds new details that shift the meaning of his earlier statements. He admitted that Karissa had checked on the infant more than once and that they had exchanged messages throughout the evening, including a photo meant to reassure him that the bar was empty. Instead of providing reassurance, it confirmed that both were aware that the child was alone, yet chose to prolong their stay. His emphasis on technicalities like leaving the air conditioning on or confirming the child was asleep were read by investigators as an attempt to disguise neglect with excuses. What stood out was not a matter of minutes, but a conscious decision to leave a baby unattended in a vulnerable state. >> So the bartender just said I miss just gave her a drink. She didn't order. >> No, because I was sitting there. She and Cory said, "Would you would wife like a drink?" And she put a drink up in front of her. She did not touch the drink. >> But what I'm saying, you didn't order one version. >> No one. That's the way Cory rolls in there. I say >> just the way rolls in there cuz like if you would sit down with your boyfriend and order a cocktail and she knew what he was drinking, she'd put a drink in front of him. What he what she knew he was drinking? >> So >> when she came in to check on you, that's when you asked her where your son was and she said he's in the car. >> He's in the car. I said, "Is the car running?" She says, "Yes." The air conditioner on? Yes. I said go check on him. Make sure he's still asleep. She said yes. She walked out. She checked on him. Walked back in. She said, "Let's go. Are you ready to go? She sat down, turned around, the drink was still there, and the Cory was totaling up my tab. I mean, it was a matter of >> Have you ever driven your wife's car? >> Excuse me? >> Have you ever driven your wife's car? >> Yes. It's in my name. It's my car. >> Okay. So, you're aware of how it works with the keys. You need a physical key to start it. Correct. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, then you're aware that the keys were in it and it was running, >> right? And that it was unlocked, >> right? >> Right. >> Right. >> I got you. I understand. I I understand where you're coming from. Especially since for the two people that were over there, they walked by the car twice and I was looking out the window to make sure. >> I mean, it's really no different. >> I I know. Believe me. >> I mean, I know you're >> I know. >> Is he just leaving other house? >> Hi. [Music] >> Where is They're taking me away. Here. >> She's coming to >> just let deal with it. They give a >> All right. Is there anything on you that's going to poke or stick me, hurt me in any way? >> My earring maybe. >> If you have anything that would be considered contraband in an inmate facility. >> I know. I'm scared. >> Um, just be aware if you do introduce anything that's considered contraband, it's an additional felony. Okay. >> Have another one. >> Okay. The case concluded with the arrest of Clarissa Finnegan and Norman Finnegan Jr., both charged with child be released after posting a $2,500 bond and Clarissa was released on her own recgnizance. The Florida Department of Children and Families took over, providing oversight in the case to evaluate the child's situation and determine any protective measures.