On a day when temperatures hovered near single digits, a suburban mother left her toddler in a cold van while she went shopping Monday, police say.
Pamela J. Weberski left her 20-month-old son in her car with the heat and ignition off while she shopped at the Target store, at 300 S. Randall Rd., in Elgin, authorities said.
An off duty firefighter who happened to park next to the vehicle spotted the infant in the car.
Weberski's husband, Dan, said the family made a horrible mistake and now they are paying for it. He said the child had fallen asleep and his mother didn't want to wake him.
One police officer said the air temperature was 8 degrees, with -11 degree windchill, at the time.
Authorities said Weberski was Christmas shopping and had been in the store for about 25 minutes.
Weberski, 43, was charged by Elgin Police, accused of endangering the life of a child. She was released after posting a bail of $100.
The child wasn't hurt.
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