Father allegedly locked 1-year-old daughter in His car while she was asleep, he shopped at Harris Co. Costco

On March 16, 2023, Harris County Constable Precinct 4 officers were called to a Costco located in Harris County, Texas, in reference to a welfare check of a child left unattended in a locked vehicle. Witnesses claimed that a father had left his 1-year-old daughter sleeping in his car while he went shopping. The father, identified as Amr Kotb, was seen returning to the car, grabbing the child from the backseat, placing her on his lap in the driver’s seat, and fleeing the scene.

Fortunately, Costco employees provided video surveillance that showed Kotb parking at the business at 2:38 p.m. and entering with his spouse and their two other children. Just over an hour later, a witness arrived at the Costco, parked next to the vehicle, and saw the 1-year-old asleep and unattended.

During the investigation, another witness observed Kotb returning to the business with the child to pick up his spouse and two other children.

Kotb was later detained and charged with abandoning a child with the intent to return. Although the child was released to her mother in good health, this unfortunate incident could have resulted in a tragedy. Children should never be left alone in a car, even if it is just for a few minutes.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, a global non-profit organization dedicated to protecting kids from preventable injuries, cars can heat up quickly, even on cool days. “On an 80-degree day, the temperature inside a closed car can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes,” warns Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. “Children’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than adults’.”

Moreover, children left alone in cars can face other dangers, such as accidental shifting of the gear, horn honking, or even getting trapped, leading to suffocation or strangulation. According to Kids and Cars, a national non-profit organization focused on keeping kids safe in and around vehicles, an average of 39 children die each year from heatstroke in vehicles.

While the law punishes Kotb for his negligence, it is important to recognize that such incidents are preventable. Parents and caregivers should never leave a child alone in a car, even for a few minutes, as it can have devastating consequences. Safe Kids Worldwide recommends the following tips to prevent child heatstroke in cars:

– Actively look before locking the car and ensure that everyone is out.
– Put a reminder or leave something important, such as your phone, wallet, or purse, in the back seat to help you remember your child is there.
– Teach children not to play in cars and keep keys out of the reach of children.
– Call 911 if you see a child alone in a car.

Preventing tragedies like this should be a priority to protect our most vulnerable. We should all take a moment to be mindful of the potential dangers and take steps to keep our children safe.