
Sarah Maria Casciato, a 29-year-old transient from San Jacinto, was arrested on Monday and charged with two counts of felony child endangerment. Police say Casciato left a one-year-old female and a two-year-old male unattended in a running vehicle in a Walmart parking lot for than two hours. The children were found unconscious.
On November 30 at about 4:40 p.m., deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station responded to the Walmart parking lot after an alert citizen reported that two infants were left alone in a running vehicle for more than an hour. Deputies arrived and found the two infants unconscious in a black Toyota Solara. Fire personnel performed life-saving measures.
American Medical Response transported the children to Hemet Valley Hospital for advanced care, officials said.
Deputies worked with Walmart security to identify and locate Casciato. According to Sergeant Kevin Dorrough, evidence indicated Casciato left the children unattended in the vehicle for more than two hours.
Casciato was arrested and booked into the Riverside County Jail for two counts of felony child endangerment. Deputies added additional charges after finding methamphetamine and heroin within arm’s reach of both children. The children were turned over to the care of Child Protective Services.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Deputy Vanny at the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station at 951-654-2702.