NEVER leave kids unsupervised in a vehicle!

Woman 'terrified' before baby found

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Janet O'Conner wishes she hadn't learned the hard way, but it could have been much worse.

O'Conner's brief nightmare began Friday night when she went to pick up her 7-year-old son, Zachary, from day care at Southern Hills Elementary School O'Conner says she left her 4-month-old son, Patrick, sleeping in his car seat in her mother-in-law's 1999 red Pontiac Grand Prix for only a moment while she went to get Zachary.

O'Conner turned her back to the running car as she greeted Zachary, and when she turned around, the car wasn't there, she said.

Around 7:40 p.m., Oklahoma City police tried to stop the stolen car in Del City and the driver ran from police, Sgt. Kevin Barnes said.

When police inspected the car, the baby wasn't inside.

Less than two hours after the alert was issued, police arrested 18-year-old Kelly Klesath on kidnapping and auto theft complaints. He was held without bond in the Oklahoma County Jail.

The driver led police to the yard of a vacant house, where the baby was found still buckled into his car seat.

O'Conner was reunited with her son after 8 p.m.

By Trisa on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 02:44 pm:

I am so glad the baby was found safe and sound.
I don't understand why people do this.
It makes me so mad. You hear about stuff like this all the time so why in the world would you leave your child in a car for even a little bit??

By Debbie on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 03:20 pm:

Yes, I am so glad the baby was safe. I just hate this. I saw 4 unsupervised children in a car in the grocery store parking lot this past weekend. They were a little older, but it still doesn't matter. There are so many stories like this. I wish parents would "get it"

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 03:26 pm:

It's actually illegal in many states to do so. Even if a state doesn't have a specific law pertaining to this parents can still be charged for endangering their child(ren). You can look up laws at SafeKids.org

By Emily7 on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 11:29 pm:

I call the cops when I see it, kids or animals.