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PD: Mom leaves toddler behind at Gilbert store

Posted at 10:16 AM, Feb 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-22 20:28:24-05

A woman has been arrested after she allegedly left her child at a Gilbert grocery store.

According to court documents, 20-year-old Maria Carranza was seen leaving the Fry’s Grocery Store at Baseline and Gilbert Roads on Sunday afternoon with her child following behind her.

The toddler was crying “momma, momma” but she never acknowledged her son’s existence and left the store. The toddler was left behind in the parking lot.

Officers responded to the scene and took custody of the child while Fry’s attempted to identify the woman though video surveillance.

An hour after the mother left the store, the boy’s grandmother called the store looking for her grandchild.

The grandmother said Carranza admitted to being at Fry’s but did not express concern over her missing son.

While the grandmother went to the store, officers went to the suspect’s house. Carranza admitted to being at Fry’s with her son and was arrested for child abuse.

The child is in the custody of the Department of Child Safety.