Police: Mom took unclothed baby for walk in freezing temps

GASTONIA, N.C. – North Carolina authorities say a woman was arrested after police found her taking a nighttime walk in freezing temperatures with her unclothed baby, a 16-month-old infant covered only by a diaper and a small blanket.

News outlets report 20-year-old Marquilia Renee Womack was charged Thursday with misdemeanour child abuse.

Gastonia Police say Womack had been out walking for about a mile (1.6 kilometres) on Wednesday night when she was stopped by an officer who reported the baby was shivering profusely in the 26-degree (-3 Celsius) weather.

Officer S.A. Cain said in an arrest warrant that the child was only wearing a diaper, wrapped in a “small blanket.” Police didn’t elaborate on what led up to the incident

It’s unclear whether Womack has an attorney who could comment on her behalf.