The father of the child found the vehicle today around 10 a.m. at a mobile home park in the 1600 block of Northwood Drive in St. Augustine.
St. Johns Sheriff Office Sgt. Chuck Mulligan said the father went to search for them after he became concerned about the whereabouts of the mother and child. According to the deputy's report,
he found his daughter in the unlocked car quiet, inactive, hot and sweaty.
The report said 28-year-old Rebekah Rinehart, the girl's mother, told police
the child had not eaten anything in almost 15 hours. She also said she had been using cocaine.
There were no diapers, clothes or baby food in the truck, police said.
The child was checked out by paramedics and did not have to be taken to the hospital. The mother was arrested for neglect.
The father, who was very upset and could hardly speak to police without crying, told deputies he checked the mobile home park -- because that's where Rinehart typically went.
One resident of the mobile home park, Preston Storey, said the mother was with him playing cards when deputies arrived, and that the air conditioning was on in the car. The woman is not a bad mother, he said.
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