Crime
Father Accused of Leaving Twins Locked in Car While He Went Dancing at a Nightclub
A New Mexico man is facing serious charges after he allegedly left his twins in a hot car for hours while he danced at a nightclub.
Stephan Natseway, 27, was arrested on Saturday, August 29, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after security guards doing a routine check of the parking lot discovered the two 20-month-old children sweating in car seats in the sweltering vehicle, according to a Monday, August 31 report by KRQE.
It’s unclear if Albuquerque police or the security guards broke the window to rescue the two boys, but the outlet reported that Natseway and another man, Orry Morris, came outside shortly after police arrived. Natseway told police the car and the children were his and admitted to leaving the boys there while he went inside to have time for himself.
According to KRQE, he claimed he called family members to watch the kids, but none were available. Based on his statements as well as when his ID was scanned into the nightclub, police estimate the kids were left alone in the car for two and a half hours. Natseway said he would not have stayed inside that long but that people were dancing with him so he was unable to leave.
When they took the children out of the car, police said they were both drenched in sweat, had soiled themselves and “were very lethargic, seemed to be unconscious at the time, but they were breathing,” according to KRQE. Officers noted once they got out of the car into the fresh air, the children began to wake up.
Police also said that, while speaking with the responding officers, Natseway did not inquire about the condition of the twins. Instead, he was reportedly more concerned with whether or not he was in trouble.
Natseway was arrested and charged with child abuse, abandonment of a child and abuse/endangerment of children’s lives/health. Morris was also arrested at the scene because he allegedly knew that the children were in the car.
His hearing is set for September 2.
