In a tragic incident in Omaha, Nebraska, a five-year-old boy named Dionicio Perez died after being left unattended in a hot car for seven hours by his foster mother, Juanita Pinon, who was working at a nearby beauty salon.
The incident unfolded when Pinon parked her vehicle around 10:30 am, leaving Dionicio inside. He was discovered unresponsive around 5 pm, with his body temperature reportedly reaching 105°F, as per Unilad’s report. Despite efforts to revive him, Dionicio was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Following the heartbreaking loss, Pinon, aged 40, was arrested by Omaha police and now faces charges of child abuse by neglect resulting in death. Her bond has been set at $2 million, and she is scheduled to appear in court on August 16. Reports indicate she was responsible for five other children in her care, according to the New York Post.
Omaha police spokesperson Chris Gordon stated that Pinon did not provide a statement regarding whether the incident was accidental or intentional, as reported by ABC News.
Dionicio’s biological father, Pablo Lopez, and stepmother, Jenny, expressed their grief and frustration, noting that they were assured Dionicio would be well cared for by his foster mother. “The social worker told me that they were in good hands,” they shared with Unilad, questioning why they were only informed after his death.
Lopez is now striving to gain custody of Dionicio’s twin sister in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Meanwhile, Dionicio’s uncle, Matthew Jesop, expressed profound sadness and raised concerns about the care provided to the children under Pinon’s supervision. “How many times have you not met the needs of the kids that are in your care?” he questioned, deeply affected by the loss.
The community mourns Dionicio Perez’s untimely death and awaits further developments in the legal proceedings surrounding this heartbreaking case.
