Local

Lake Co. mom arrested after baby left in car

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A Lake County mother has bonded out of jail after investigators said she left her baby in the car while she went to the grocery and liquor store.

Shannon Mixer, 34, told officers she thought her 1-year-old daughter would be fine in the car because the air conditioning was on. But police said the vehicle was left unlocked and the air conditioning wasn't working properly.

The incident happened Sunday afternoon at a shopping plaza in Leesburg.

"It just disgusts me, it really does," said shopper Ellen Healey.

According to investigators, Mixer first went to LJ's Lounge & Package for liquor before going over to the Publix. Police were called when someone spotted the child in Mixer's car.

"They think that no one is going to notice that they're doing it, but see everyone is more watchful now," said shopper Janice Bennett.

Officers said the baby was clammy and flushed after being left for about 20 minutes in the car, which wasn't blowing cold air.

Mixer told police she has left her child in the car at least six other times, an arrest report states.

"She probably just leaves her kid in the car and goes and does everything," said Bennett.

Mixer has bonded out of jail after being charged with child neglect. Channel 9 went to the woman's Umatilla home to get her side of the story, but she couldn't be located.