Witness: Knox mother left infant in car to go inside of bar

 

STARKE COUNTY, Ind.—Witnesses say an infant was found sleeping in a parked car that was not running on Saturday night outside of a bar in Knox.

According to witnesses, the infant’s mother and the man who accompanied her left the infant in the car while they went inside of O's Tap.

Witness Aja Wintczak and other patrons of the bar went outside and discovered the infant sleeping in the car.

Wintczak said the infant could have been in the car for up to an hour and a half.

The Knox City Police Department was called and when they arrived, the man at the bar with the infant’s mother ran off with the car keys in his pocket.

“He had the keys on him so the cops had to go chase him out back before we could even get the car unlocked and running to get the baby out,” Wintczak said.

The police caught the man and were able to get the car open.

EMS checked on the infant, who appeared uninjured.

“I can’t imagine. I mean it was so cold. I mean it was absolutely freezing last night. The poor little baby,” Wintczak said.

The mother, 29-year-old Tiffany Helbling was arrested. The man with her was reportedly released.

Helbling was taken to Starke County Jail and charged with Neglect of a Dependent and Criminal Recklessness.

Her bond has not been set.