WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A 36-year-old pregnant woman was arrested Thursday, three days after she was found passed out from cocaine while inside a hot car with two small children, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
- Pregnant woman found passed out inside vehicle
- Marsha Forrester admitted to using cocaine
- Two small children also inside the hot car
Marsha Forrester, of Winter Haven, admitted to using cocaine "several times over the two days prior to passing out," according to the arrest report. She told authorities that she had picked up the two children, both under 5-years-old, in Lakeland and then stopped at a Circle K store at 1108 Spirit Lake Road in Winter Haven where she went inside to use cocaine, leaving the kids inside the car.
Authorities said after she left the Circle K, she drove across the parking lot to the Publix store and passed out.
That's when someone noticed Forrester slumped over the wheel and the two children inside, "crying and sweating," according to the report. Authorities also noted that the car was running but the air conditioning was off.
The temperature at the time was 90 degrees, with a heat index of 99 degrees, the report stated.
Polk Fire Rescue responded to the scene and a crew member recognized the symptoms of narcotic overdose and administered two doses of Narcan.
Forrester was rushed to the hospital where she had an emergency C-section. Authorities say the other two children were injured. The newborn remains intubated and in critical condition.
After Forrester was released from the hospital, she was arrested and charged with two counts of negligent child abuse without great bodily harm. Authorities said she has a prior criminal history a robbery, prostitution, and battery charge.
Marsha Forrester, 36, was arrested Thursday, three days after she was found passed out from cocaine while inside a hot car with two small children, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.