Local

Parents gambling while young children left in hot car for hours, police say

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Police said two parents left three children and a baby in a hot car for two hours while they were gambling in Mableton.

Investigators told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell that the parents were inside a gas station on the slot machines.

Someone heard the children crying in the car next to this gas pump.

All of the children are under 5 years old. The youngest is 4 months old.

In a 911 call, a witness said she saw the mom go out to the car to give the baby a pacifier before walking back inside. In the call, she can be heard describing how hot it was outside.

“It’s dangerous, and it’s irresponsible,” said Metzger Zuniga, a gas station customer.

“That’s really sad. I love kids, and you’re putting a game before your child? You’ve got a problem,” said another customer, James Meyers.  

The children were in the car with no A/C as outside temps reached 80 degrees, according to police.

Police were called to the Texaco on Mableton Parkway after someone saw the children alone and crying.

Police arrested Tyshun Lockhart and Jaysonee Worthen at the gas station. Both parents are charged with several felony counts of cruelty to children.

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Michele Newell

Michele Newell, WSB-TV Cobb County Bureau Chief

Michele Newell is a three-time Emmy award-winning reporter. She joined the WSB-TV team as a general assignment reporter in November 2021. She was promoted to Cobb County Bureau Chief five months later

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