Woman Who Left Four Disabled Men in Hot Van Faces Indictment

On a June day with temperatures approaching 100 degrees, in Walmart's parking lot at 2500 W. 95th St., police say. That woman now faces indictment.

Kathy L. Reed, 45, of Elgin, was the caretaker for the four men, who were residents of the Blue Island-based Greenwood Home and ranged in age from 40 to 60 years old, police said.

arrested and charged Reed with felony criminal neglect of a person with a disability on June 28. Judge Terence B. Smith set Reed’s bail at $20,000. She was released on bond.

She returned to the courthouse on July 18, and another hearing date was set for July 30.

Reed's public defender, Peter Kasparis, declined to comment.

At the time of the incident on June 28, the temperature had reached 99 degrees with a 111-degree heat index. Police said Reed left the four mentally challenged adults inside a van in Walmart's parking lot for more than 30 minutes while she went in to shop for a grill and some charcoal. The windows were half-cracked, but no air conditioning was running, reports stated.

A bystander saw the men when he went into the store, then noticed they were still there, sweating profusely 20 minutes later. The bystander alerted store security, police said. Video surveillance showed that Reed drove in the parking lot at 3:42 p.m. and returned to the car at 4:19 p.m.

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