RALEIGH, N.C. — A 21-year-old mother was arrested on Saturday after police alleged she left her six-week-old baby unrestrained in a car with the engine off while she worked her shift at a McDonald’s restaurant, exposing the child to 40-degree temperatures.
Nikita Jones faces charges of misdemeanor child abuse and felony intentional child abuse causing serious physical injury, according to police warrants obtained by local media. Authorities also alleged Jones struck the infant in the face the day prior, leaving visible bruises, swelling, and scratches around the baby’s eyes.
The incident unfolded on Nov. 21, when Raleigh police were called to the McDonald’s parking lot and found the newborn inside the unattended vehicle. Warrants stated the car was turned off at the time, and it remains unclear how long the baby had been left there.
The allegations of physical abuse date back to Nov. 20, when Jones is accused of hitting the child, causing injuries that were still evident the following day. Details about the child’s current condition or who alerted authorities to the situation have not been disclosed.
Jones was taken into custody and booked at the Wake County Detention Center, where she is being held on a $50,000 secured bond for the felony charge and an additional $5,000 for the misdemeanor. She is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 10 for the felony arraignment, followed by a Dec. 19 hearing on the misdemeanor charge.
