– Children left in car during argument
– Arrested parents leave kids in hot vehicle.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A man and woman from Buckhannon have been taken into custody after allegedly leaving two young children in a hot car for a significant period while engaged in a heated argument inside a residence.
Jeffrey Cowger, aged 45, and Carol Tenney, aged 28, both residents of Buckhannon, have been charged with two counts of gross child neglect creating a substantial risk of death, as well as one count of domestic battery.
Incident Details
According to the criminal complaint filed by investigating officer Cpl. F.J. Turansky with the Buckhannon detachment of the West Virginia State Police, the incident took place on June 1, 2024, around 1:03 p.m. Turansky was called to a residence on Clarksburg Road in response to a domestic situation.
Upon arrival, Turansky encountered a male subject, identified as Cowger, who informed him that he and his girlfriend, Tenney, were in the midst of an argument. Cowger mentioned that the children were in the vehicle parked outside.
Approaching the car, Turansky found an eight-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl inside, both appearing red-faced due to the extreme heat. The officer noted that the temperature inside the vehicle was dangerously high, reaching 109 degrees Fahrenheit.
After removing the children from the car and calling for medical assistance, Turansky spoke with Tenney, who claimed to be the primary caregiver for the children along with Cowger. She admitted to pushing Cowger during the argument, causing him to push her into the three-year-old child.
Cowger estimated that the children had been left in the car for around 10 minutes, while Tenney stated it was closer to 20 minutes. The juveniles were subsequently taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital by EMS, and Child Protective Services were contacted to take custody of the children.
Legal Consequences
Bail for Cowger and Tenney has been set at $100,000 cash only by Upshur County Magistrate Mark Davis. The potential penalties for their charges include fines ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 and confinement in a state correctional facility for a period of one to five years for gross child neglect. Domestic battery carries a potential penalty of jail time up to 12 months, a fine of up to $500, or both.
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“couple arrested leaving kids hot car”.
