
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 28, 1995                   TAG: 9507280102
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FREDERICKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

MOTHER CHARGED AFTER LEAVING CHILD IN CAR

At first, Sgt. Steve Simmons was sure the little boy lolling in his car seat in a broiling station wagon was dead. The child's blond hair was drenched with sweat, his blue eyes partially open and rolled back into his head.

Nathaniel X. Futch was alive, but doctors later said that another few minutes sealed inside his mother's car in a grocery store parking lot would have killed him.

``When we got to the emergency room, the doctor said he would have died in 15 minutes'' or less, Simmons said Thursday, after a court hearing to remove the boy from his mother's custody.

Nathaniel, four days past his first birthday, was left in the closed car for more than a half-hour Tuesday, when the temperature was 98 degrees. His mother, Sandra Ann Futch, was charged with felony child endangerment.

``His breathing was so shallow, you couldn't tell he was breathing at all,'' Simmons said.

The child suffered severe heat stroke and dehydration, emergency room doctors at Mary Washington Hospital said.

Simmons, a Mary Washington College police officer who was patrolling nearby when passers-by noticed the child and called for help, rushed the limp child to his air-conditioned cruiser.

Before an ambulance arrived, Sandra Futch appeared, distraught and carrying grocery sacks, Simmons said.

After asking what was wrong, Futch, 20, demanded Simmons hand over the boy, he said.

Simmons refused.

Futch later told police she didn't know the child was in the car, Simmons said.

Futch, of Asheville, N.C., was arrested later that night. She was freed on $1,000 bond Wednesday.

``It's unfortunate. It's more than unfortunate; it's damn stupid,'' said Fredericksburg Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jeffrey Edmunds. ``She certainly did not show good judgment.''

If convicted, Futch could face from two to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Futch could not be reached for comment, and juvenile court officials would not release any information on the case.

She was in Fredericksburg to visit relatives, police said.

Nathaniel still was at Mary Washington Hospital on Thursday; doctors want to be sure his heart was not damaged in the ordeal.

``He's looking really good now,'' Simmons said. ``He recognized me when I went to see him ... and he put up his little arms to be picked up.''

Simmons said the child appeared well cared-for. ``He's a little pudgy,'' Simmons said.

The temperature inside the car was well over 100 degrees, hot enough to cause serious dehydration and breathing problems in adults, but especially dangerous for children, doctors said.

``The baby loses water much faster than an adult,'' said Dr. Jun Kang, a neonatologist and pediatric specialist at Pediatric Medical Group in Fredericksburg. ``They can become stuporous, unconscious, and then they can die rather quickly.'

Simmons said Social Services officials want to remove a 4-year-old child from Futch's custody as well. She is eight weeks pregnant with her third child.

Ann Ramie, supervisor at the city Social Services office, would not comment.

by CNB