UPDATE: An Arizona father has been sentenced after leaving his four young children in a locked car that reached a staggering 124 degrees while he visited a porn store. Ascencio Largo, aged 38, has been in custody for four months and will serve 10 years of probation following the incident in July 2023.
Police confirmed that Largo was arrested after officers found his children, all under 10 years old, sweating profusely and showing signs of heat distress in the vehicle. The children were left unattended for over an hour while Largo was inside The Adult Shoppe on South 24th Street in Phoenix. The alarming situation unfolded when a concerned citizen called 911, prompting an urgent police response.
According to body-worn camera footage released by the Phoenix Police Department, an officer asked the children where their parents were, revealing the shocking lack of parental supervision. “Where’s mom or dad?” the officer inquired, clearly alarmed by the children’s condition.
A police press release stated that the vehicle was turned off and the windows were rolled up, creating an unbearable environment. Officers quickly accessed the locked car and removed the children, providing them with water and placing them in a patrol vehicle with air conditioning to help cool them down.
The children were found to have internal body temperatures ranging from 99.7°F to 100.4°F, indicating they were in serious danger. Authorities described them as “visibly unwell” and “hot to the touch” during the rescue. The prosecutor emphasized the life-threatening nature of the situation, stating, “The children were in imminent danger of death in this situation.”
During the court proceedings, the judge expressed disbelief at Largo’s actions. “You could have exited that store to a car full of your dead children,” the judge remarked, highlighting the severe recklessness involved. The judge continued, “This could have resulted in, you know, the kind of story that gets picked up on international news wires.”
Largo, reportedly intoxicated at the time, initially denied ownership of the vehicle but later acknowledged his presence when confronted by police. He claimed he had gone to “get some supplies” despite the critical circumstances surrounding his children.
Fortunately, all four children survived the ordeal, but the incident raises urgent questions about parental responsibility and child safety in extreme conditions. As the community responds to this shocking case, officials are urging vigilance to prevent such dangerous situations in the future.
Authorities are now monitoring the family situation, ensuring that the children are safe following their harrowing experience. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by leaving children unattended in vehicles, especially during extreme heat.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
