The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 03:00 PM
Knoxville Foster Mother Under Arrest After Officials Say She Left Child In Hot Car
KPD responded to the report of an infant left in a minivan around 6:50 p.m. Saturday at the Kroger in Cedar Bluff off Kingston Pike. Witnesses told police a woman spotted the 9-month-old child sitting in a car seat; the windows were rolled up and the engine was off in 90-degree weather.
The woman called 911 and told the manager at Kroger immediately. The van was unlocked, and officers said the manager ran cold water and towels out to help the child, who was "crying, had a red face, and was sweating."
About 15 minutes after cooling down the child, KPD said the woman — identified as 38-year-old Claire Huenefeld — returned to the minivan after shopping inside the store. Huenefeld allegedly told officers that she was fostering the child and forgot the child was with her. The infant was taken to East Tennessee Children's Hospital for care, and will be turned over to the Department of Children's Services upon its release.
Huenefeld was arrested on one charge of child endangerment and is being held at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. She is scheduled for arraignment at 10 a.m. on May 22.
