The Eyrie

TITUSVILLE, FL — Two Florida caregivers were arrested after police say they left an infant alone in a parked car for nearly 20 minutes while they were inside a Petco store in Titusville.

According to the Titusville Police Department, the baby was found crying in the backseat with a blanket covering the car. A witness called 911 on Oct. 29 after seeing the infant alone, sweaty and red-faced in the vehicle, which was not running.

Police and paramedics responded to the parking lot near Columbia Boulevard and Windover Trail, removed the child from the car and placed her in an air-conditioned patrol vehicle. Officials said the infant was not seriously injured.

Witness calls triggered a rescue in the parking lot

Police said the witness had already seen the child unattended for at least five minutes before making the emergency call. That prompt response brought officers and medical crews to the Petco parking lot before the situation worsened.

Once on scene, first responders quickly moved the baby out of the hot vehicle and into a cooler environment. Paramedics evaluated the infant and determined she did not suffer serious harm.

Titusville police said the case is a reminder that an overheated car can become dangerous in a short time, especially for a baby who cannot escape or call for help. The department credited the civilian who reported the incident for helping prevent a more serious outcome.

Surveillance video showed the pair inside the store for about 20 minutes

After the rescue, officers went inside the Petco and found Zoey Connor, 26, and Ethan Humes, 28, identified by police as the child’s caretakers. The arrest report says surveillance video showed the pair had been inside the store for about 20 minutes.

Police arrested both on child neglect charges. Humes was also charged with leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle because he admitted he was driving.

Officials said the baby was later released to a parent. The report did not spell out the adults’ relationship to the infant, and police did not say how long the child had been in the car before the witness first noticed her.

Humes said the outing was supposed to be brief

According to the arrest report, the pair appeared to be babysitting the infant and had another child with them. Humes told investigators the stop was meant to be short, and he said the situation “completely slipped his mind” after they arrived at the store.

He also said he did not think to check the back seat because the other child could get in and out of the vehicle on his own. The report says Humes told police he would never intentionally hurt the infant and felt extreme guilt over what happened.

He estimated they were in the store for five to 10 minutes, though he was not actively tracking time. That account differed from what surveillance video showed, according to police.

Connor received bond as both face child neglect charges

Connor was arrested for child neglect and later received a $50,000 bond on Friday, according to police and court information in the case. Humes also faces a child neglect charge in addition to the motor vehicle offense tied to his role as the driver.

The arrests came after officers reviewed the witness account, the physical condition of the child, and the store video. Police said the combination of evidence led them to take both adults into custody.

The case has drawn attention because it involved a very young child, a warm vehicle and a public shopping trip that could have ended far worse. Titusville police said the outcome could have been tragic without the bystander’s intervention.

Police chief praises the bystander who made the 911 call

Police Chief Tyler Wright thanked the person who reported the baby’s condition, calling the quick action an example of community responsibility. In a statement, he said a single decision to speak up can prevent a tragedy and may save a life.

Authorities used the case to highlight how quickly danger can build inside an unattended car, even during a short errand. The department’s message focused on immediate action and awareness from anyone who sees a child left alone in a vehicle.

The infant was checked by paramedics, released to a parent and was not reported to have serious injuries. Police said the arrests followed the department’s review of the scene, the witness account and the surveillance video from the store.