Dayo Ade Olusola|Crime News|14 August 2025
A Texas mother has been arrested after allegedly leaving her 1-year-old child unattended in an unlocked car while she dined with her family at a Houston restaurant.
Sally Zamora, 29, who works full-time as a nurse, was taken into custody on Monday and charged with abandoning a child with the intent to return. Court documents reviewed by Law&Crime indicate the incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. at Mambo Seafood.
According to the documents, Zamora was monitoring her child through a camera placed inside the vehicle while she, her husband, and other children were inside the restaurant. Police said a witness discovered the child alone in the car, which had its engine running and air conditioning on.
Zamora allegedly admitted to police that she had not left the restaurant to physically check on her child for over an hour, relying solely on the camera. She reportedly said she did not realise the car had been left unlocked. Alcohol may have been a contributing factor, according to the report.
Houston police noted that while the car’s air conditioning was running, the outside temperature had reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the incident on Monday, August 11. The baby was unharmed.
Authorities confirmed the child was placed in the custody of Zamora’s husband, and the state’s Child Protective Services was notified. Local reports indicated no charges had been filed against the husband, who was present at the restaurant during the incident.
Zamora posted a $1,000 bond and was ordered to enroll in a parenting class. Her next court appearance is scheduled for October 15.
Houston Police and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the case or any further investigation.
