Woman admits she made wet nephew ride in car trunk, say Minn. cops

(CBS) EDINA, Minn.- Susan McCarty, a 38-year-old woman from Edina, is charged with child endangerment for allegedly putting her nephew in the trunk of her car because he was soaking wet, CBS Minnesota reports.

Witnesses called police after they saw McCarty put her 11-year-old nephew in the trunk of her car, the station reports.

Police say she admitted putting her nephew in the trunk because he was soaking wet from going on a water ride, and she didn't want him to ruin the leather seats of her Lexus. 

The boy was warned that if he continued to go on water rides, he would have to ride in the trunk, according to the criminal complaint.

The boy's sister told police that her brother seemed excited to ride in the car trunk and confirmed that she was the one who closed the trunk once he was inside, according to CBS Minnesota. The sister also told police that the back seat console was folded down, leaving a very small space so that the boy could get some air. She added that the vents were aimed directly at the console area when her brother told her he was getting warm in the trunk.

The boy's sister and grandmother, who was also in the car at the time of the incident, told police that they felt somewhat uneasy about having the 11-year-old riding in the trunk but did not question the decision made by the aunt.

McCarty faces up to a year in prison and $3,000 fine if convicted.