Christmas Shopper Leaves Infant In Car

Font Size By Pat Peterson Reporter
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M30o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Christmas Shopper Leaves Infant In Car
Published: Wed, December 12, 2007 - 7:35 pm
Last Updated: Wed, December 12, 2007 - 7:55 pm
Pat Peterson
Pat Peterson

A Foley mother and firefighter has been charged with reckless endangerment, after police say she left her three-month old baby in her while she went shopping at Wal-Mart. Wendy Martell was booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Center Sunday afternoon. Police were called to the Highway 59 store Sunday when another shopper saw the crying baby in the back seat of Martell's car.

"When we interviewed her, she told us she forgot the child was in the back seat," says Foley Police Sgt. Tony Fuqua.

Temperatures were in the 70's Sunday afternoon across much of Southwest Alabama. Firefigthers say when they got the child out of the car, the temperature inside was over 90 degrees. The baby was rushed to the hospital and Martell was put in jail.

"It was the smartest thing to do," says Fuqua. "All parents should make their children a main priority. This woman could face up to a year in prison if she's convicted of reckless endangerement."

"How could she do that?" asks Miriam Wallace. "I don't even want to imagine what the child went through."

"I think it's ridiculous," says Shannon Crane, a Foley resident. "It's just sad, it's a helpless baby, it can't defend itself."

Foley Fire Chief Jamie Hinton has placed Martell on administrative leave. Hinton says Martell has been with the department for two years. The Department of Human Resources has been notified about the incident. The baby was released from the hospital Tuesday.

Who hasn’t wanted to leave an ungrateful, screaming, time consumming rugrat alone to realize the importance of parents, every now and then? HA, just kidding!! if a person doesn’t take more stock in thier kids than this they don’t deserve them!! BUT these are the same people willing to send them to public schools. Sending your children to public schools is equillivent to sending them to Wal-Mart for an education with the exception of Wal-Mart not being a union orginzation. Therefore mass anything is not good! Mass education has never worked for the good of society and it never will!

Posted by MeAmerican on 12/20/07 - 10:51 pm • Report Abuse   

Wow, she left her baby in the car, that is awful, in my opinion, your mind has to be way out there for you to forget a baby, if you picked him up and knew you put him in the seat, how could you forget so quickly. I would want to show my baby off, too many people are being neglectful in life. Too many things are going on, if you were going to Walmart then the baby should have been left with a sitter.

Mel

Posted by mel on 12/20/07 - 9:27 pm • Report Abuse   

You keep on harping about how “the story wasn’t entirely accurate.” Well, lets break it down to the bottom line:

Fact:  Stupid Mother locked her kid in the car and went into WalMart.

Even if that is the ONLY accurate, statement, its enough.  Its STUPID to leave your kid locked in a hot car, or even a cool car, and go into a store.  ESPECIALLY A 3-MONTH OLD BABY!

I just hope she gained a little sense after this stupid event.  Maybe she’ll be a little less stupid next time.

Stupid lady.

Posted by YourSisterIsStupid on 12/14/07 - 8:32 pm • Report Abuse   

I too offer my apologies to you.

Posted by therewasonlyoneperfectperson on 12/14/07 - 3:32 pm • Report Abuse   

rabidpooh
I can also recall someone saying those very same words not too long ago also and look what happen. Noone here can say much about what they will never find themselves doing it just not possible. This wasn’t a case where a young Mother was hopping alone inside wal-mart Christmas Shopping, This was about a young Mother caring for children that needed to run into wal-mart to buy Dinner and Bottles for the baby. Nor was this a case of a young Mother shopping merrierly for 90 mins she was in there less than 40, even tho thats a bit of time not knowing her baby was inside the truck thats no such a long time to gather items you are needing.
The Baby din’t spend 2 days in the Hospital as reported He stayed overnight and was released back to Wendy and Steve Monday Morning. Noone did this to harm him, She might have use poor judgement by NOT checking the backseat true, However, It’s not like this has happen before and its a HABIT of hers to leave the children while she shops.

Posted by therewasonlyoneperfectperson on 12/14/07 - 3:23 pm • Report Abuse   

I just don’t like my name being up in all of this, when really the ones who did call the little girl stupid should be the ones who’s name got caught up in this.  She wrote the comment.  Never intended to hurt her feelings in any way.  If you know me personally, you would know that I am not a mean or rude person in any way.  So please, I apologize for any feelings hurt my posting my opinion.

Posted by dh2004 on 12/14/07 - 3:10 pm • Report Abuse   

people post comments about someone they don’t know and only what they hear then sometimes it’s HARD not to defend that person. The News was WRONG in what was reported, Half of this didn’t happen and the other half that did was taken out of context. My comments on about being “Perfect” was mainly because Not one single person here has done everyhting perfeclty in their lifes and Things they done on Accident or nonintent shouldn’t be slammed into your face over and over again. Wendy will have her day in Court just the same as anyone facing charges, However, It’s not up to the “General Public” to go on a witch hunt” all over a News Cast report. Get FACTS first then Forn your 2 cents worth based on those facts Not HEAR SAY.This is all I wanted to post to start with. But people are/was posting how they could never do this, Well lets hope to God you never do However, If one day you find yourself in her place you too will hope the TRUTH is told about it.She’s my Child and I / We love her.

Posted by therewasonlyoneperfectperson on 12/14/07 - 3:09 pm • Report Abuse   

I understand being upset with someone calling someone stupid or dumb or anything in that catagory, but I don’t recall calling the girl’s sister stupid.  I never would call anyone that.  I don’t believe in calling someone names.  I just wanted answers to why someone would do such a thing.  No offense to any of the family or friends of the family.  I can totally understand if I did call her stupid, but I didn’t.  I’d be upset too.

Posted by dh2004 on 12/14/07 - 3:06 pm • Report Abuse   

And as you DH2004 I wanted nothing to do with all this bashing either till I read the Comments on here, Didn’t even know the Comments were even here to be posted till I got a wake up call from my Aunt telling me all the horrible things that was being posted about Wendy.Everyone in this Family agrees this was a Horrible Horrible Mistake on Wendy’s part and Noone ever said what she did should be excused or Over looked. But to come on here and call a CHILD thats taking up for her sister STUPID is a little too much.Had the Comments not gotten so personal about Wendy nothing more would have been said, However, You hate the misdeed NOT the Person is what I have taught my children.Wendy and Steve Both are carrying alot of heavy guilt over this.It was an ACCIDENT, Nothing was done to the baby to be harmful.Wendy is a very good Mother a caring Mother she loves her son’s with every part of her soul, She has cried a million tears over this and wishes nothing more than to redo Sunday. But when

Posted by therewasonlyoneperfectperson on 12/14/07 - 3:00 pm • Report Abuse   

Holy Hot Flashes Batman! That was brutal!

Why so quick to jump on me? I’m not casting stones here darling. I simply made the statement that if you can’t take care of your children, you don’t need them. There are plenty of loving familes who can’t have children who would love to give neglected children a happy home.

I’m sorry to dissapoint you tootz, but I have reproduced twice. I plan on making a few more before my number is called. I love my children. I know where my children are at all times. I have never forgotten them, even at Wal-Mart. I don’t even leave my 10 year old in the car alone.

I’ll air Rabidpooh our for ya’ sister…

I drink. I smoke. I cuss. I pick my nose. I shoot guns. I love God. He walks with me too momma. But I ain’t bible thumpin, or condeming people. It’s up to the Lord to condem, not you

[Quote]Rabidpooh,
I hope you are the VERY first one in the line to be fixed so you will not have Children EVER.Posted by therewasonlyoneperfectperson

Posted by rabidpooh on 12/14/07 - 2:50 pm • Report Abuse   


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