Police say Kyna C. Garnett left the SUV running and unlocked when she went into a liquor store on the White Horse Pike. Just 30 seconds later, it was stolen by a Paulsboro man.
MAGNOLIA -- A 32-year-old woman who left her children in a running SUV outside of a liquor store has been charged with abuse and neglect after the vehicle was stolen and later crashed with the children inside.
According to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, Kyna C. Garnett, of Lawnside, was in the parking lot of Columbo Liquors on the White Horse Pike in Magnolia on Saturday at about 11:30 p.m. when she went inside the store and left her 10-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son in her SUV, which was left running.
Just 30 seconds after Garnett walked into the store, a 38-year-old Paulsboro man, Christopher R. Dumas, stole the unlocked vehicle with the children still inside and later crashed into another SUV at Merchant Street and Hampshire Avenue in Audubon.
Surveillance cameras show Garnett, who is facing one fourth-degree count of abuse and neglect, remained in the store for several minutes.
Dumas is charged with three counts of aggravated assault by auto, two counts of assault by auto, two counts of kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child, one count of theft, one count of receiving stolen property and one count of eluding.
The driver of the second SUV, a 48-year-old woman from Mount Ephraim, was transported to Cooper University Hospital in Camden along with Dumas and the two children. All were treated for minor injuries.
Dumas remains in Camden County jail in lieu of $617,500, and Garnett was process on and released on her own recognizance.
Michelle Caffrey may be reached at mcaffrey@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ShellyCaffrey. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
