EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – A 30-year-old Evansville mother, Lissandra Denis, has been arrested on charges of child neglect after allegedly leaving her child outside for more than eight hours during a severe heat advisory.
The Evansville Police Department said the child was first seen playing outside the apartment complex at 7:00 a.m. on a day when the heat index reached 101°F. Authorities were called at 3:30 p.m., after the child began screaming for their mother outside their locked apartment door.
According to the police affidavit, the temperature was 96°F when officers arrived. Witnesses confirmed the child had no access to food or water throughout the day, and Denis was not seen checking on them.
When questioned, Denis claimed she had let the child play outside while she did laundry, but she could not specify a clear timeframe. Authorities noted no effort was made to ensure the child’s safety in the dangerous heat.
Denis has been taken into custody without bond and is facing formal child neglect charges. The case has also been referred to child protective services for further investigation.
