Colorado Man Charged With Child Abuse After Leaving Son In Hot Car Albuquerque

A Colorado man, Michael Clohessy, was arrested and charged with child abuse after leaving his 6-year-old son alone in a hot, locked car while shopping at a Walmart in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Surveillance footage showed Clohessy entering the store alone, leaving the child in the vehicle for over 20 minutes in temperatures reaching 80 to 85 degrees, with the boy found red-faced but unharmed. Clohessy claimed he was unaware it was illegal to leave a child unattended in a car and stated he left the car locked and took the keys for safety, referencing the city's dangers. The incident occurred just one day after a 1-year-old died in a separate hot car tragedy in the same area, highlighting the ongoing risks of leaving children in vehicles. Experts and officials stress that even short periods in a hot car can be deadly for children, who absorb heat much faster than adults, and emphasize the importance of immediate action if a child is found unattended in a vehicle. Nationwide, dozens of children die each year from being left in hot cars, prompting calls for increased awareness and preventive measures.