OKC Mom Arrested After Infant Found In Cold Car

An Oklahoma City mother was arrested after she and her infant were found inside a cold car.

Thursday, November 13th 2014, 2:47 pm

By: News 9


An Oklahoma City mother was arrested after she and her infant were found inside a cold car.

According to Oklahoma City police, at about 10 a.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a welfare check call at S.W. 17th and Everglade. Officers said they found 37-year-old Lori Vanauken passed out in the driver's seat of a car. They also found an infant in the backseat, who was cold to the touch.

The temperature outside was only 27 degrees and police said the vehicle was not on. The child's car seat was not attached to the car with the seatbelt.

Police said when they woke Vanauken up, she had very slow, sluggish movements. They asked her if she had been drinking, she said no. They also asked her if she had taken any drugs. She did not answer.

According to police, Vanauken's keys were in the ignition. Officers had Vanauken complete some field sobriety tests. She reportedly had lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes and Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) at maximum deviation. She was then placed under arrest for APC.

Police confirmed that Vanauken's car was parked near her mother's house. The infant was released to Vanauken's mother, who was home at the time. 

Vanauken was arrested and booked into the Oklahoma County Jail. She is now facing charges of child endangerment.

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