Cedar Rapids woman charged with child endangerment for leaving kids in hot car

CEDAR RAPIDS - A 20-year-old Cedar Rapids woman was charged this week for leaving an infant and a 6-year-old in a locked car with only a window cracked on Sunday, when the temperature was 89 degrees, while she went into the Walmart on the southwest side.

Mapendo Kiza was charged Monday in Linn County Associate District Court with two aggravated misdemeanor charges of child endangerment – substantial risk. She is accused of leaving her 3-week-old baby and a 6-year-old child in the vehicle for about 10 minutes when the reported heat index was 99 degrees, according to a criminal complaint.

Police also determined the temperature was 100 degrees inside the car, which only had one window cracked and the doors were locked, the complaint stated. Witnesses saw the children “crying and sweating profusely” in the car and contacted Walmart security.

Surveillance cameras in the Walmart parking lot showed Kiza park and leave the children inside the car. The children had been left about 10 minutes before witnesses saw them, according to the complaint.

If convicted, she faces up to four years in prison.

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