A Gambler’s Nightmare: 14-Month-Old Rescued from Hot Car Outside PA Casino
It’s a story that serves as a chilling reminder for every parent and guardian, especially as temperatures begin to climb. Last week, a 37-year-old New Jersey mother was arrested after police found her 14-month-old child alone in a locked, hot car for over two hours while she was inside a casino.
The Incident at Parx Casino
On Tuesday, April 14, Bensalem Township Police were called to the parking lot of Parx Casino shortly before 9:00 p.m. Security and concerned bystanders had spotted a small child sitting alone in the backseat of a vehicle.
When officers arrived, they found a grim scene. The car was turned off, the windows were rolled up tight, and the doors were locked. Outside, temperatures had reached the mid-80s that day. Inside the car, the 14-month-old was visibly sweating and appeared to be sleeping—a dangerous sign of potential heat exhaustion.
The Rescue and the Arrest
Officers were able to gain entry to the vehicle and safely remove the toddler. The child was immediately transported to a local hospital for evaluation and was later released into the care of his father.
While the child was being treated, investigators used casino surveillance footage to piece together what happened. The footage revealed that the mother, identified as Leola Dualuqua of Willingboro, NJ, had left the child in the car at approximately 6:30 p.m.
When police finally located her, she wasn’t looking for her child—she was inside the casino, actively gambling.
Legal Consequences
Dualuqua was arrested on the spot and now faces serious charges, including:
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Endangering the welfare of a child
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Leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle
She was remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on a $25,000 bond. Court records indicate she has since posted the required 10% and has been released pending her preliminary hearing on April 30.
The Danger of Hot Cars
This story ended without a tragedy, but the margins were thin. Even on a day that feels “mild” (in the 70s or 80s), the interior of a car can reach life-threatening temperatures in minutes.
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Fact: A car’s interior can heat up by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes.
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Fact: Cracking a window does very little to lower the core temperature of a vehicle.
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Fact: A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s.
A Community Reminder
Whether it’s a quick trip into a convenience store or a “just one more round” at a slot machine, there is never a safe amount of time to leave a young child alone in a car.
We are grateful to the security staff and officers in Bensalem for their quick action. Let this be a reminder to all of us: if you see a child or a pet alone in a car, say something immediately. You might just save a life.
For more local news and safety updates, stay tuned to our blog or follow the latest reports from CBS Philadelphia.
