5-and-7-year-old siblings hospitalized after their mother kept them in freezing temperatures throughout the night to avoid getting arrested for beating her boyfriend; mother charged
Wisconsin – In a harrowing incident in Wisconsin, a 47-year-old mother, identified as A. Saragosa, faced severe legal consequences after exposing her 5-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, whose names have not been publicly released, to dangerously low temperatures. The ordeal began with a domestic altercation between Saragosa and her boyfriend and ended with Saragosa’s children suffering from severe hypothermia and carbon monoxide exposure due to spending over ten hours outside in the freezing cold.
The incident began on the evening of February 19, when Saragosa reportedly engaged in a heated argument with her boyfriend about his ex-wife. According to police reports, the dispute escalated to physical violence, with Saragosa hitting her boyfriend “repeatedly in the face,” leading to significant injuries including a bloody mouth and temporary loss of sight in one eye. The details of the assault were outlined in a criminal complaint filed by local authorities, which also noted that the man suffered a cut on his upper lip along with other injuries on his face.
Following the altercation and in order to avoid getting arrested by law enforcement, Saragosa fled the scene with her two children, a 5-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, under her care. The trio left the house amidst freezing conditions, with wind chill temperatures plummeting to -19 degrees Fahrenheit. The decision to leave home during such extreme weather conditions marked the beginning of a perilous night for Saragosa and her children.
In the early hours of February 20, after spending approximately ten hours exposed to the harsh winter elements, Saragosa sought refuge at a neighbor’s house. She knocked on the door, asking for help, visibly shaken and with her children trembling uncontrollably from the cold. The neighbor, upon seeing their condition, immediately called the police. When officers arrived, they found the children still shivering intensely, a state that lasted for about 45 minutes even as they were warmed with blankets, socks, and an electric heater.
During her interaction with the police, Saragosa recounted the harrowing hours they spent outdoors. She revealed that they had run through backyards and hid, trying to evade the police, eventually curling up next to a furnace exhaust vent in an attempt to stay warm. This desperate attempt to find warmth led to carbon monoxide exposure, compounding their already life-threatening situation.
The consequences of Saragosa’s actions were severe. She was arrested on February 21 and faced multiple charges, including two counts of child abuse, two counts of child neglect, misdemeanor battery, and three counts of misdemeanor bail jumping. During her court appearance last week, on Friday, prosecutors highlighted the gravity of the children’s condition, with one child experiencing blistering on his feet due to the cold exposure. The prosecutor, K. Lindo, emphasized to Judge Sandy Williams that both children were still hospitalized, being treated for low body temperature and carbon monoxide exposure.
Judge Williams set Saragosa’s bond at $100,000, reflecting the seriousness of the charges. Saragosa’s legal battle was set to continue, with a scheduled court appearance on March 13. If convicted of the more serious charges, she could face up to six years in prison.
The incident not only left physical scars on Saragosa’s children but also raised significant concerns within the community about child safety and parental responsibilities in crisis situations. As the legal proceedings unfold, the focus remains on the well-being of the children involved and ensuring such a distressing event does not recur. The case serves as a sobering example of the dire consequences of domestic disputes that spiral out of control, affecting the most vulnerable.
