Girl locked in trunk as mom visits jailed husband

Associated Press ^ | 08/02/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- A woman who locked her 3-year-old daughter in the trunk of a car while she visited her husband in prison has been charged with endangerment.

Tammy Denise Swittenburg-Edwards, 31, was arrested Saturday at a state prison about 95 miles east of Pittsburgh after prison guards heard crying and yelling from the vehicle and found the girl in the trunk, state police said.

Swittenburg-Edwards apparently locked her in after prison officials refused the child's entry because she wasn't on a visitor's list, state police said.

The girl was in the trunk for about 40 minutes while Swittenburg-Edwards visited her husband, state police said. The child wasn't injured.

Swittenburg-Edwards was charged with attempted aggravated assault and endangerment, and is being held in the Huntingdon County Prison. The girl was turned over to child welfare officials.

Swittenburg-Edwards did not have a listed phone number and it was unclear if she had an attorney.

[LQDSWRD]

Sick. They should have just left the mother inside the prison with the father.

[Bigg Red]

Someone should lock this hillary in a car trunk for about 10 hours in 90 degree weather. How horrible.

[Clara Lou]

Life is cruel. Poor kid with an undeserving piece of work for a mom. Put Mom in jail and throw away the key. (It will never happen.)

[Pearls Before Swine]

Normally, you'd bring the child in--unless it was a conjugal visit.

[steplock]

NOT to give the mother any excuse - but ......

"prison officials refused the child's entry because she wasn't on a visitor's list"

This was inexcusa..... no! I have to be careful! I've almost been indoctrinated into the "touchy feely" thinking of the left-wing and other wierdos.

This is a PRISON where INMATES (FELONS, CROOKS, CRIMINALS, ETC) are housed and they must follow rules to the letter!

This WILL include all their visitors. So the officials were 100% correct to tell that woman that her child was NOT on the list so she was refused admission. The stupid female-thing (not a mother) is the only one liable here.

[mombonn]

Hope it wasn't a conjugal visit - I'd hate to see her bring another child into the world.

sheesh

[ol' hoghead]

stupid female-thing (not a mother) = egg donor

[chance33_98]

Ping

[DannyTN]

"Sick. They should have just left the mother inside the prison with the father. "

Agreed, but they should also lock up the guards who wouldn't let the child be part of the visit. Then deny them any visits from children. How ridiculous! What did the guards think? The child was Baby Faced Nelson going to break him out of jail?

[DannyTN]

"This is a PRISON where INMATES (FELONS, CROOKS, CRIMINALS, ETC) are housed and they must follow rules to the letter! "

They should have called the Warden and got special permission. I can't believe that the prison was any safer because this 3 year old was not allowed to visit.

[SwinneySwitch]

Tammy, remember to put your daughters name on your visitors list!

[The Brush]

Sick. They should have just left the mother inside the prison with the father.

Maybe they should have let the father out to the car to see the child, since we are throwing out the established rules anyway, what could be the harm be?
Once again we are blaming the rules for the stupidity of the people who wish to live around them.
The mother locked her child in the trunk but you're trying to blame the guard. That's liberal-speech.

[fortunecookie]

Tammy, remember to put your daughters name on your visitors list!

I agree.

Sadly, this little 3 year old girl, who can't really understand what's going on, lost her father because of his bad behavior and now her mother for the same reason. Not good parents for a little girl, but the only one's she's had the misfortune to know. How confusing and sad it must be for her, even if her future seems brighter (to us adults) without them. My prayers go out to the little girl.

[steplock]

This prison was safer for DEMANDING that the rules be followed!

[DannyTN]

"This prison was safer for DEMANDING that the rules be followed!"

Yes the 3 yo represented such a huge threat!!!! Give me a break!!!

The guards were uncompassionate idiots!!! That added absolutely nothing to safety.

[DannyTN]

"This prison was safer for DEMANDING that the rules be followed! "

The prison is not safe at all, because they are relying on rules and regulations and have guards that cannot think at all. Rule and regulations will not make the prison safe, if the guards are idiots.

[DannyTN]

In fact, I'd dare say that calloused guards are why there's a prison rape problem.