OKC Mother arrested after leaving baby in car

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An 11-month old boy was placed in protective custody after being left alone in a car while his mother allegedly visited a strip club. <br><br>Cara Judith Hendrix, 21, was arrested

Tuesday, April 11th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An 11-month old boy was placed in protective custody after being left alone in a car while his mother allegedly visited a strip club.

Cara Judith Hendrix, 21, was arrested about 2 a.m. Sunday on complaints of child abuse, child endangerment, child abandonment and public intoxication.

An employee of the club said a club security worker heard a baby crying in the parking lot and found the boy strapped into a child safety seat in a car about 1:30 a.m.

The temperature at the time was 44 degrees.

The rear window on the driver's side of the car was missing. The hole was partially covered by a plastic trash bag.

Workers contacted police and brought the boy into the kitchen area of the club.

"He was very cold," a club employee said. "You could tell he was freezing. He was just a beautiful little boy."

Police hid their cars behind the club and waited for the driver to return to the car.

Hendrix was inside the club. According to police, a witness later said Hendrix was "drinking ... dancing and tipping the exotic dancers" and "had been in the club for over 45 minutes."