Mother charged over kids in hot car

FARMINGTON, N.M. (KRQE) - A mother accused of leaving her two kids in a hot car for more than three hours has been charged with felony child abuse, according to the Farmington Police Department.

Mary Passey, 20, was arrested Friday and booked into the San Juan County Detention Center under a $50,000 bond.

Passey is charged with child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, a first-degree felony, and one count of child abuse, a third-degree felony.

Police reported the children--a 3-year-old girl and 1-year-old boy--had been buckled in the car while Passey was visiting a friend on Tuesday. A neighbor who heard Passey screaming told News 13 he called 911 as Passey started performing CPR on the boy.

The girl was treated and released from the San Juan Regional Medical Center. The boy, however, was flown to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque where he was still listed in serious condition Friday evening.

Police reported the temperature inside the car reached 120 degrees.