UPDATE: An Arizona father has been sentenced after leaving his four young children in a locked car that reached a staggering 124 degrees while he visited a pornographic store. Ascencio Largo, 38, was arrested in July 2023, and has spent the last four months in jail. He now faces 10 years of probation following this shocking incident.
Authorities report that the children, all under the age of 10, were left in the vehicle for over an hour, visibly suffering from the extreme heat. A concerned 911 caller alerted the Phoenix Police Department, leading to a swift response. Police body camera footage shows officers discovering the children sweating profusely and exhibiting signs of heat distress, with internal body temperatures recorded between 99.7°F and 100.4°F.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found the car turned off and the windows rolled up, posing a lethal risk to the children. “The car was a sauna,” one officer noted. They immediately broke into the vehicle, rescuing the children, who were then provided with water and transported to a patrol vehicle with air conditioning to help cool them down.
During the court proceedings, the prosecutor emphasized the dire situation, stating, “The children were in imminent danger of death.” Judge remarks highlighted the severity of Largo’s actions, indicating that he could have returned to a car full of deceased children, a scenario that could have made international headlines.
Largo, who appeared to be intoxicated at the time of his arrest, initially claimed he was merely “getting some supplies” but showed confusion regarding the vehicle’s ownership. Officers followed him until he recognized his car surrounded by emergency vehicles, reacting with an alarmed, “Oh s–.”
This case has drawn significant public outrage, with many questioning how a parent could disregard their children’s safety in such a manner. Thankfully, all four children survived the ordeal and have since been monitored for their health.
As this case continues to unfold, community members and child welfare advocates are calling for stricter measures to protect children from similar perilous situations in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of child safety, especially during extreme weather conditions.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
