A Kansas couple faces felony charges after allegedly leaving their six children inside a parked vehicle for up to 30 minutes on a hot day while they ate at a Wingstop restaurant.
Michael Douglas Krueger, 53, and Tiffany Krueger, 40, were each charged with six counts of aggravated child endangerment following the July 8 incident in Salina.
Police responded shortly after 2 p.m. to the Wingstop on South Ohio Street after witnesses reported children alone in the car. Officers found the vehicle turned off with one window partially down. The children ranged in age from 7 months to 13 years, including two infants.
Outside temperatures reached 97 degrees with a heat index of 102. Sgt. Aaron Melby of the Salina Police Department noted that car interiors can exceed 120 degrees quickly, even with a window cracked. Emergency services evaluated the children at the scene, and none showed serious medical issues.
Each charge carries a potential sentence of five to 17 months in prison if convicted. The children were placed in protective custody.