Child found in locked car at Hormel plant; Mother arrested on traffic violation warrant

Published 10:57 am Tuesday, November 5, 2019

An Austin woman could be facing possible child endangerment charges after her son was found in her vehicle Monday afternoon.

Liliana Garcia, 27

According to Austin Police Chief David McKichan, police responded to a call at about 2 p.m. on Monday concerning a child in a vehicle in the Hormel Foods plant parking lot. Employees called police after spotting the 4-year-old male, who was the son of an employee that had clocked in at 6:30 a.m.

Police made contact with the boy’s mother, Liliana Garcia, 27, who said she normally dropped him off at a babysitter. She told police she thought she had dropped him off, then wondered if she had at about 9:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. She mentioned it to a friend, but did not follow up with the babysitter.

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Police believe the child was in the vehicle the whole time, McKichan said. The child was not harmed.

Garcia was arrested after police learned she had a warrant for failure to appear in court on a driving after revocation charge.

McKichan said Garcia could face additional charges in the matter. The case has been submitted to the Mower County Attorney’s Office.