Grandmother Accused of Leaving Toddler in Burning Vehicle Is Charged After Youngster Dies

The Associated Press Breaking ^ | Oct 20, 2003

[Kaslin]

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. (AP) - A woman accused of leaving her 22-month-old grandson to die inside a burning vehicle was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Police said 41-year-old Pamela Dreadin was driving in a rural area around 3 a.m. Sunday when her Ford Bronco ran off the road and a fire started in the engine compartment.

Dreadin went to a house nearby to call for help but did not mention that her grandson, Michael Malinowski, was in the car until 10 minutes later, when a police officer arrived, authorities said.

By the time rescue crews arrived, the fire had engulfed the vehicle, killing the child.

Dreadin turned herself in on Monday and was released on her own recognizance.

[Kaslin]

Unbelievable

[AppyPappy]

A grandmother 4 years younger than me. Sheesh!

[Flyer]

driving in a rural area around 3 a.m. Sunday

That's a little early for church. Must have been going somewhere else.

[twigs]

She looks young enough to be the baby's mother. I saw her on the news last night. Something is wrong here; I didn't believe her story. She looked like she was lying. No mention of the baby's mom or dad. The woman whose door she knocked on contradicted her story. This woman had plenty of time to pull the baby from the burning car, but didn't and didn't tell anyone else he was in there. If she had, other people would have pulled him out. Without knowing the facts of the story, my first guess at this is that a mom dumped her baby on this young grandmother (who is attractive enough) who in turn resented it and wanted out. Very sad story.

[Egon]

It's really sad when someone who qualifies for a Darwin award, instead kills someone else. What a doorknob.

[rabidralph]

Must be a Kennedy.

[Havisham]

Could be another case of placing the child in the back seat and forgetting, as many have done since being admonished about front seat 'dangers'.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

Replace the fire with water and the toddler with a brother's mistress -- then add a bottle of Old Bushmills into the mix -- and you've got the senior senator from Massachusetts.

[Cooter]

[ravingnutter]

I became a grandmother at 41 (now 45 with 2 grandkids), my daughter had her first baby at 19, I had my daughter at age 22, so it is not all that unusual, especially if you consider that my mother got married at 16 and had 2 kids by the time she was 21. Up until the last couple of years, I still got "carded" for beer even though my kids are old enough to drink.

[thegreatbeast]

There certainly is a story here. Let us know as it becomes known. Thanks.
My prayers for the baby.

[newgeezer]

{ping}

[PleaseNoMore]

My God! I cannot believe this. I cannot imagine intentionally leaving a child in a burning car.

Last Monday my Ford Explorer caught on fire while I was driving down the road. My 7 year old son was sleeping in the back seat as he was ill. He was my first thought. I got out to get him out and closed the driver's door. His door was locked and I had to reopen the driver's door to pop the lock. I didn't think about the smoke nor the melting dash that was becoming engulfed. I got him out and could have given a care less about the car. He was what was important. I am so thankful that I was able to get him out. ( We found out today that leaves that had fallen into the car ( we park under a Sycamore tree ) and gotten into the heater causing the fire. )

[Bigg Red]

Good Lord! May she burn, as well. At 3:00 a.m., maybe she was stoned or drunk.

[Hegemony Cricket]

things that make you go "huh?"