News

4-day-old baby left in hot car in Leominster

LEOMINSTER, Mass. — A scare at a local supermarket after a newborn was left locked inside of a hot car, while her mother was inside shopping.

That mom says on her way to Market Basket, she stopped by the fire house to make sure her baby's car seat was properly installed.

Less than an hour later those firefighters helped rescue her 4-day-old baby, who was locked in mom's hot car.

"71 Sack Blvd Market Basket for a newborn left in the car…" the 911 call said.

A shopper called Leominster police after spotting a newborn alone inside a car. It was Sharma Murphy's silver Chevy Malibu.

"My first time out with my first child. Kinda nervous,” said Murphy.

Murphy was out for the first time with newborn daughter, 4-day-old Katherine.

"I went, I bought it. Came right out and this lady just starts screaming at me. Screaming at me,” said Murphy.

Murphy claims she brought her newborn inside with her to Market Basket and then returned to the car when Katherine fell asleep. That's when she says she ran back inside for two or three minutes to buy some baby formula.

"I believe she locked her keys in the car because they had to use the jimmy to get the baby out,” said witness John Casey.

Police say the windows were rolled up.

According to Boston 25 Meteorologists, the outside temperature was 84 degrees at the time.

Murphy told Boston 25 News from outside her home she didn't want to wake her newborn.

"I thought, OK, if I run in and run out. It was one of those things where she's gotta eat because I have nothing left for her and that's when everything happened and I'm like, oh my God," said Murphy.

Baby Katherine was taken to the hospital to be checked out. Mom says she's fine.

Right now, the baby is in custody of DCF.

No charges have been filed.