Published on: April 17, 2026, at 12:36h.
Updated on: April 17, 2026, at 12:36h.
- A Pennsylvania mother has been charged with a felony for leaving her 14-month-old infant in a locked car while she gambled for two hours
- She could face up to seven years behind bars and fines reaching $15,000
- Pennsylvania authorities emphasize that children must never be left alone in vehicles
Authorities in Pennsylvania report that a mother left her 14-month-old infant in a locked vehicle for at least two hours while she engaged in gambling activities.
On April 14, just before 9 pm, the Bensalem Police responded to a call regarding a baby left in a vehicle at the Parx Casino parking lot. The child was discovered to be sweating but asleep in the back seat.
The Bucks County Courier Times reports that officers used a lockout kit to access the vehicle and rescue the infant. The child was notably “very hot,” drenched in sweat, and reportedly wearing a soiled diaper. The infant was taken to a hospital for a medical assessment.
Authorities located and arrested 37-year-old Leola Dualuqua from Willingboro, New Jersey. Surveillance footage from the casino showed her entering shortly before 6:30 pm and not returning to her vehicle until around 8:30 pm.
Dualuqua faces charges of felony endangerment for the welfare of a child and a summary charge related to leaving a child unattended in a vehicle. The temperatures at the time were above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
A LinkedIn profile belonging to Leola Dualuqua indicates she is employed as a teacher with Willingboro Public Schools.
Leaving Children Unattended
Pennsylvania has launched public awareness campaigns to reduce incidents of children being left unattended in parked vehicles, particularly outside casinos. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s “Don’t Gamble With Kids” initiative states that leaving children in cars is a risk “never worth taking.”
Temperatures inside parked cars can escalate rapidly. According to the National Weather Service, the internal temperature can increase by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes, and by as much as 50 degrees within an hour.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board aims to raise awareness about this serious issue that endangers children and can result in significant legal repercussions for adults. Individuals who are found leaving minors unattended while visiting a casino may face severe legal, financial, and social repercussions,” warns the PGCB.
Dualuqua was arraigned on Wednesday and released after paying 10% of a $25,000 cash bail. She is scheduled to appear in court on April 30 for her preliminary hearing.
Endangerment of Child Welfare
In Pennsylvania, individuals can be charged with endangering a child’s welfare if their actions create a “substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury” to the child. The third-degree felony that Dualuqua faces carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and fines up to $15,000.
Individuals leaving children unattended in vehicles outside casinos typically face bans from entering these establishments within the Commonwealth in the future.