This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Janica Nielson was leaving a South Salt Lake movie theater with her father early Sunday when she noticed what appeared to be a doll in the back seat of the car parked next to theirs.
Taking a closer look, she realized it was a toddler - alone and sweating in his car seat.
"He was wearing a T-shirt that was completely soaked, and a blanket," Nielson said. "You could tell he was dehydrated and he could hardly breathe. The temperature inside the car was really stuffy."
Police who broke into the car to rescue the child say his father had left him there while he attended the midnight showing of "The Dark Knight."
David Farnham, 23, had left 2-year-old Justin in his car with the windows rolled up "so the child could not be taken out," according to a jail booking statement. The temperature inside the vehicle was 87 degrees, the statement said.
Police found Farnham inside the Century 16 Theaters at 125 E. 3300 South, said detective Gary Keller, of the South Salt Lake Police Department. Farnham has been booked into the Salt Lake County jail under suspicion of child abuse. Bail has been set at $50,000.
The boy, who was thirsty but reported in good condition, was released to his mother, Keller said. The case has now been turned over to prosecutors for screening.
"The only way the father would have left his baby in the vehicle like this is if he had a lobotomy earlier in the day," Nielson said Monday. "I can't believe he would put that child's life in danger. He should have taken care of his son."
Several other Utah parents have left their children in cars this year, some with fatal consequences.
Daniel Hadley, 5 months, died after his mother left him in her parked car June 17 in Springville as she visited a business associate. Outside temperatures reached up to 89 degrees, police have said. Kamilyn Kartchner Hadley, 31, pleaded guilty to a negligent homicide charge and faces probation.
A Salt Lake City couple face reckless endangerment charges for allegedly leaving their 2-year-old son in a parked car for 20 minutes while they shopped at Sears downtown. A security guard broke the car window and found the child dehydrated but otherwise unharmed, police have said.
Myles Gailey, 18 months, died April 28 in Kearns after his mother, Jana Gailey, left him in the back of her vehicle after a trip to the grocery store. Three hours later, she remembered the boy was in the car. Temperatures outside on the day of Myles' death hovered around 80 degrees. No charges were filed against Jana Gailey in that case.