Las Vegas Sun

November 28, 2009

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Couple arrested after leaving 8 kids in van

A couple could face child endangerment charges after officers discovered their eight children, ages 1 to 10 years old, locked in a van.

Click to enlarge photo

Billy McGruder

Click to enlarge photo

Sharon McGruder

Metro Police arrested Billy and Sharon McGruder shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday, when officers were called to a parking lot at Maryland Parkway and Tropicana Avenue. They discovered the eight children and two dogs locked in the van, police said.

Both parents were arrested at the site. The mother came out of a nearby store with groceries and diapers to find officers already removing the children from the van, police said.

Police plan to present the case to the district attorney's office and the parents may face child endangerment charges, which are felonies.

At the time the children were found, it was 111 degrees in Las Vegas, the National Weather Service said.

All of the children were checked by paramedics at the scene and released to other family members, police said.

Discussion: 2 comments so far...

  1. Thank goodness the children were discovered before they were injured or died of heat-related illness. Leaving children and pets in vehicles in this desert environment is a death sentence.

  2. Wow,Tell me this why did all of them go to the store do they live in the van was the van running with the a/c on.
    Looks as though someone was being blatant with their actions to provok a response from the public so they the adults could claim they were being victomized and now should be compensated for undue stress and suffering they have received.
    I wonder if a by-stander seen them leave the kids in the van and said something to the adults and the adults told them to mind their own business.
    I hope and pray that all residents in the valley that see kids in cars left unattended call the police and give the tag # so if parents do leave before police arrive it can still be investigated.

    Casinokid

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