What was Granny thinkin'?

Charleston, SC

On Wednesday, July 13 the average outside temperature in the Charleston area was 97 degrees.  The heat index factor put that over 120 degrees as a "feel like" temp.  Yea, it was freakin' hot!

An 81 year old woman from the Charleston area is babysitting her great grandchildren, ages 8 and 9, who are visiting from Texas.  Yea, it's hot in Texas too!

Great granny needs to go to Wally World so the 2 kids and her pet dog load up in the car and head out.  Granny parks in a handicap spot and for whatever reason, the 2 kids and the dog are left in the car while Granny goes inside.  A Wally World employee happens by the car and sees the 2 children and dog in the car.  The windows are closed, the doors are locked, and the car is not running.  According to the Wal-Mart employee, the children and dog appeared to be in distress and it took both the employee and the store manager some time to convince the children to unlock the door and step out.  The children and dog were brought inside to the air conditioning and the police and EMS were called.

Once great granny gets back to the car, she is met by police.  She states she was only gone 20 minutes and the children didn't want the car on.  Video surveillance shows granny arriving and returning to her car some 56 minutes later.  That's an hour.  An hour where 2 kids could have been easily kidnapped and an hour where they could have all easily died in that car, had it not been for the quick thinking of a Wally World employee.

Well, the police arrest Granny and she goes to jail.

 At her bond hearing the next day, granny has an attorney speaking on her behalf.  Judge Linda Lombard interrupted the attorney, telling him not to blame the children for any of it.  Judge Lombard set the maximum bail amount of $25,000. for each charge of Unlawful Conduct towards a Child.  Her total bond of $50,000. sparked some outcry from family and friends, accusing the Judge of violating her 8th amendment right by setting an excessively high bond.  Granny has no criminal record and has never been in such trouble before.  Some say that since she's a church-goin', God fearing woman, she should have been released on her own recognizance or the bond should have been lower.


Granny was eventually bailed out of jail  and the children were turned over to relatives.  The dog made it too and Granny was given an appearance ticket to municipal court on a charge of cruelty to animals.

What was Granny thinkin'?