So, you have six children in two vehicles unattended, >> right? >> Where's your information? >> I don't have my information. >> You have no information. How did you drive two vehicles here? >> We can talk. We can talk. [Applause] >> This is the haunting image of six young children abandoned inside two locked vehicles under the blazing 86 deg midday sun. A suffocating heat that could turn into a death sentence at any moment. On June 19th, 2023 in Illinois, a frantic 911 call reported children trapped inside cars with no adults around. The metal doors burned hot. The interiors were cluttered like furnaces, and six fragile lives struggled for every breath. When officers arrived at the scene, the owner of the two vehicles finally appeared. But instead of showing concern for her children's survival, she immediately argued and denied responsibility. >> Hi. >> Hi. Mine's both. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Ran in cuz my sister >> ran in. How long? >> Not long. >> She's been here an hour. >> [ __ ] >> I don't care. I don't care. It's 86° outside. You have three There's three children under the age of five in that vehicle, I'm going to presume. And probably three under the age of five in that vehicle, I'm going to presume. Is that correct? >> Okay. Okay. So, you have six children in two vehicles unattended, >> right? >> Where's your information? >> I don't have my information. >> You have no information. How did you drive two vehicles here? >> No. My I told you I met my sister here. >> Okay. Open the door and start getting kids out. It is 86°. >> Surveying the cars, police noted both were damaged. Their interiors littered with leftover food, dirty bottles, and used diapers. Shockingly, a puppy was also locked in the rear compartment of the Acura. These details revealed this was not a temporary situation but a prolonged and dangerous environment. With the children facing the threat of heat stroke, police were forced to order, "Open the doors and get the kids out immediately. Yet the woman refused to cooperate, loudly protesting and demanding to leave the scene with her children. >> Open the door and start getting kids out. It is 86°. You have a baby and a carrier in that one. You have three ch How old is the youngest that's on >> there? >> How old is the youngest that's on the phone in there? You can't even get the doors open for these kids. Does the driver side door open? >> Yes, it does. >> Go open it up. >> I know what I'm doing. >> I'm not worried about whether you know you don't know what you're doing. You have six children unattended. No, you don't. >> Yes, I do. two cars and I just have a adult that came out. I know. I'm trying to get her to open the car so I can get the kids out though. Thus far, she has no information. I'm trying to get kids out because it's hot and she can't get the doors open. >> Yes, I can. Radio. Okay. >> Don't lie on the radio. >> It's not the radio. It's my phone. >> Whatever. your phone number. >> Where do you have keys to this car? >> I got the keys to that phone. >> Let me have the keys. >> No, I could do it. >> You know what? Not a question whether you can. I want the kids out. >> And you have a dog that's back here. >> We're going to walk over here and get these kids out next. Well, >> I don't appreciate the attitude. Here's where I'm at. You have six children that I'm not going to yell at you because you're not leaving once you get the kids out. >> Yes, I am. >> No, ma'am. You're not. Yes, I am. >> No, I'm sorry. >> I don't know what a [ __ ] got to say. I'm going based off of what she's saying. You don't even know the whole truth. So, you >> I don't need to know the whole truth. You're not even These kids are not even allowed to be unattended in a vehicle at all. >> I could run in for an emergency. Not for children. Yes, I can. >> No, I'm sorry. >> Show me the law book. >> I will show you the law. >> Show me the law book. >> Get the kids out first. >> Girl by out of here. >> There's too much going on out here for y'all to be worried about some straight up. >> You're right. people stealing vehicles and three kids are six kids are in two cars. >> Girl, bye. Ain't no vehicle being stolen. You're you're you're making up [ __ ] >> No, I'm not making anything up. Yes, you are. >> Let's get the kids out. >> Her behavior suggested the children had very likely been inside the vehicles for an extended time. What stood out most was her complete lack of concern for their safety. Instead, she chose to argue, resist, and repeatedly demand that officers prove by law that she was in the wrong. When asked for an explanation, she claimed she had only stepped inside the house to bring diapers to her sister and that they had been cooking. But who could accept that bringing diapers or cooking took precedence over the lives of six children trapped in locked cars under sweltering heat? This was no explanation. It was a blatant denial of her maternal responsibility. >> Come from you don't even know where you are. >> You don't even know where you are. >> So, where were you? >> I went to go get my sister a diaper because she's changing a baby inside as well. So, we're multitasking. No one left for a long time. >> Okay. Now that the kids are out of the car, I need you to start finding me some identification. Identification. Okay, then you can start providing me your name. >> No, >> no, >> no. >> Okay, so we have three kids in this vehicle. These three here. Three kids. And there's still a puppy in the Acura. >> You're not You're not free to go. >> Moments later, her sister also appeared. Rather than clarifying matters, her arrival only escalated the confrontation. Neither woman cooperated. They kept repeating the same excuse. busy cooking, changing the baby's diaper. A flimsy pretext to conceal the truth that six children had been left to suffer inside hot cars for hours. Could any mother who truly loved her children choose to clash with police instead of fearing for the safety of her own kids? The contradictions in the mother's statements forced police to verify her claims. And once security footage from the surrounding area was reviewed, it exposed a truth that completely contradicted her story. Three of the children had been left inside one vehicle since 1:20 p.m. nearly 3 hours without supervision. The other three were placed in the second car at 2:25 p.m., meaning they remained there for almost an hour and a half. Officers arrived at the scene after 400 p.m. This evidence outright disproved the mother's excuse that it had only been a few minutes. In reality, six children were abandoned in conditions that could have led to rapid death. From that, police confirmed this was not a momentary lapse, but a severe disregard for child safety. Given the women's combative attitude, authorities were forced to act decisively. They ordered both women detained on the spot. The six children were removed one by one, handed over to paramedics for medical evaluation, and even the puppy was freed from the car compartment. Both women were quickly subdued and handcuffed. After being rescued, the children were transported to the hospital for medical checks. Fortunately, none were in critical condition. Both women were charged with three counts of child endangerment each. Six charges in total corresponding to the six children. The Department of Children and Family Services, DCFS, took custody and for five business days, the mothers were barred from seeing their children. The court granted them release on an eye bond, but the criminal charges remained in effect. In many US states, laws explicitly forbid leaving children unattended in a vehicle if their health or safety could be at risk. Even in places without specific statutes, child endangerment charges still apply. A child can die within minutes when trapped inside a hot car. Yet, instead of showing worry for her children, the mother in this case appeared indifferent, even dismissive toward police. What is most alarming is not just the length of time the children were left alone, but the mother's cold attitude. When officers showed more concern for the children than their own mother did, the nature of this incident went far beyond ignorance. It became a willful disregard for her children's safety. That day, six children were lucky to be rescued. But a few minutes delay could have turned the case into tragedy. Children do not get to choose their parents. They cannot save themselves when abandoned. Every moment of neglect, every selfish decision by an adult can cost a child's life. This case reminds us protecting children is not only the responsibility of the family but also the duty of the community and society at large.