18-year-old mother, who pulled her 2-year-old daughter out of a cinema only to lock her inside a sweltering hot car so she could continue watching the movie without distractions, was arrested
Utah – In a shocking incident in Utah, an 18-year-old mother, identified as T. Merriex, is facing a felony child neglect charge after authorities say she deliberately left her 2-year-old daughter inside a dangerously hot car while she continued watching a movie in an air-conditioned cinema. Merriex was arrested outside the cinema, where officers found her young daughter crying and drenched in sweat inside a parked SUV on one of the hottest days of the year.
Merriex is being held in the county jail on a $50,000 bond, charged with felony child neglect after the disturbing incident, which could have had fatal consequences. According to law enforcement, she removed the toddler from the theater showing a movie after the child became upset, locked her inside her car, and then returned to her seat in the theater as if nothing had happened. Authorities noted that on the day of the incident, temperatures had soared to 94 degrees Fahrenheit, with a heat index of 107. In such conditions, the interior of a parked car can quickly reach lethal levels, making it an extremely dangerous environment for any child.
The case unfolded just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, when concerned witnesses alerted authorities about a young child alone in a locked vehicle outside the movie theater. Responding police officers quickly located the vehicle and smashed a window to reach the toddler inside. The girl was reportedly “sweating profusely and was crying in distress,” according to the police statement.
Paramedics rushed the child to the hospital, where she was evaluated and treated. Fortunately, police later confirmed the girl had recovered and was “doing OK,” but the near miss left officers deeply disturbed by what could have been a preventable tragedy. Police say when Merriex emerged from the theater, she appeared “very nonchalant” and “acted as though the whole situation wasn’t a big deal as she just stood next to her vehicle,” according to the arrest report.
Initially, the young mother told officers she had simply forgotten her daughter in the car. However, that version of events quickly unraveled as witnesses at the scene painted a very different picture. According to a theater employee, Merriex had not forgotten her child but had intentionally locked the toddler in the vehicle because she was crying and distracting her. One witness also reported that Merriex, who was watching the film with her younger brother and sister, periodically sent her siblings to check on the child while she remained inside enjoying the movie.
Merriex was taken into custody and booked at the county jail, where she now faces a felony charge that could carry serious consequences. Meanwhile, her daughter has been placed in safe hands and is recovering from the incident. This case joins a growing list of similar tragedies and near-tragedies in the United States. So far in 2025, at least 15 children have died as a result of being left in hot vehicles, according to the National Safety Council. On average, 37 children under 15 die each year from heatstroke in vehicles.
Authorities have emphasized that this case could have ended much worse and are using it as a reminder of the fatal dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles—no matter how brief the parent believes the absence to be. The investigation remains ongoing as officials determine the next legal steps in Merriex’s case.
