South Carolina

Woman leaves kids in car week after mom charged with sister's hot car death

Photo Courtesy: Colleton County Detention Center

WALTERBORO, S.C. — A South Carolina woman has been accused of leaving her two children alone in a car one week after her mother's 13-year-old daughter died in a hot car.

News outlets report 30-year-old Ashley Pangalangan was arrested Monday and charged with unlawful conduct toward a child. Walterboro police Lt. Amye Stivender says the woman left her 7-year-old and 6-month-old in her car with the engine running while she shopped at Walmart.

Police say the car's air conditioning wasn't working. It's unclear whether she has an attorney to speak on her behalf.

[RELATED: Two charged after teen with special needs dies in hot car on SC highway]

Last week Ashley's mother, 49-year-old Rita Pangalangan, and a male friend were charged with murder.

The Colleton County Sheriff's Office says Rita Pangalangan's disabled 13-year-old daughter was intentionally left inside a hot car for five hours on Aug. 5.