Grandma Who Left Tot In Burning Vehicle Turns Herself In

[Blitz]

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. -- A woman who left her 22-month-old grandson inside a burning vehicle early Sunday was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and turned herself in to authorities on Monday.

Pamela Dreadin, 41, was released on her own recognizance after a short hearing in Superior Court.

. . .

Police said Dreadin, 41, of Mount Laurel, was driving in a rural section of Eastampton Township shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday when her Ford Bronco ran off the road, starting a fire in the engine compartment.

Dreadin went to a nearby house to call for help but did not mention that her grandson, Michael Malinowski, was in the car until 10 minutes later when a police officer arrived, authorities said.

By the time rescue crews arrived, the fire had engulfed the vehicle, killing the child.

. . .

more:

http://www.local6.com/news/2566983/detail.html

As a criminal defense attorney, I simply cannot fathom that she was released O/R and that the charges against her, at this time, are so minimal. As a human being, I simply don't understand this woman. How do you just let a child burn to death? I can only asume that she didn't know that the car was on fire and that she didn't see it burn. Even so . . .

[NashVegas]

1. Look on the Bright Side

Stupidity is now punishable by law.

[demdave]

2. 3 AM Sunday morning, Bronco ran off the road...she was drunk.

I think Granny was driving drunk. I realize it has no facts to back it up, but 3 AM after a Saturday night and a single car accident make me suspicious.

[Sick of Bullshit]

5. A 41-year-old granny?

:wtf:

[no one in particular]

7. Nothing unusual.

My ex-wife's mother was 33 when my first one was born.

She was 13 when my ex was born and my ex was 19 when my daughter was born.

[roguevalley]

3. Children have fewer rights than property.

I see people getting six months to a couple of years
for shaking or beating children to death all the time
in the papers. Until children are valued more than
a buick, this will happen. I wonder what her daughter
or son thinks about granny now?

[Pastiche423]

4. Why she left the child

in the car in the 1st place is unfathomable.

[NickB79]

6. "Charged with endangering the welfare of a child"? WTF???

It's called MANSLAUGHTER, morons!!! Charge her for what she did! The grandson was endangered alright, endangered to DEATH! Jesus!

[Gemini Cat]

8. Awful.

I can't imagine the horrible pain and fear that poor little boy went through. I don't care how drunk, stoned or stupid this woman was, there is no excuse. What a waste of life!

[Cocoa]

9. I'm firmly against leaving children to burn in vehicles

regarding releasing her, my guess it is because she was not considered a danger to society while she awaited trial, or a flight risk either.

Regarding her charges, I assume it was the prosecutor's judgement that that child endangerment was appropriate. I don't think that charge means that what she did was good.

[corarose]

10. Was the grandchild dead prior to burning up?

Could she have possibly beat the child to death and tried to cover her tracks by sitting the car on fire?

Or

Could she have almost killed the kid and she decided finish him/her off.

[tkmorris]

11. Not enough info

There simply aren't enough facts here for any of us to be slinging judgements around like strings of beads at Mardi Gras.

For example, was the woman injured in the accident? She may have suffered a blow to the head, leaving her unable to exercise judgement or perhaps even be aware of what happened. Such injuries are common in mid-level crashes, the driver survives but smacks their head but good on the windshield/dashboard.

Was she aware the vehicle was on fire? It apparently started in the engine compartment. Most of the time such fires aren't noticed until they spread. Was she injured in a different way rendering her unable to carry the child but circumstances compelled her to seek help anyway rather than wait for it at 3 AM by the roadside?

There's more missing from the story than included in it. I'll wait.

[corarose]

12. Your right!

How much did the kid weigh and how big was the grandma? Did she have a problem that prevented her from lifting?
Could she have left the child in the car for safety reasons?
The car could be on fire and she wouldn't have known it because it was dark out.