TMP Reports
Posted: Thursday, July 16, 2009 3:27 pm

A 5-month-old girl was admitted to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Wednesday after being left an hour with a heat index of more than 100 degrees in a Mercury Mountaineer, Murfreesboro Police reported.

Mother Joann Bell and sister Janice Bell, 15, of Santana Street searched for the baby, Officer Jason Lowder reported.

“Janice located the baby in the vehicle purple in color and very hot,” Lowder reported. “Ms. Bell advised she immediately took the baby inside to attempt to cool the child down. Janice called 911.”

Lowder escorted paramedics to Middle Tennessee Medical Center before the infant was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Vanderbilt.

Bell told Lowder she and her children went to the tanning bed and McDonald’s before returning home about 2:30 p.m. Her daughter usually helps bring in the children and the mother assumed the baby was brought inside.

“After about an hour, she wondered why the baby hadn’t woken up,” Lowder reported, adding she searched for the baby.

Police notified the Department of Children’s Services, who launched an investigation along with Murfreesboro detectives.

Spokesman Kyle Evans said detectives consulted with the district attorney’s office.

“The investigation is continuing,” Evans said.