Dad who left kids locked in his Dodge Dart while he got a massage as temperature inside neared 100 said he was getting them ice cream: Police Reveal
A Pennsylvania man is facing multiple criminal charges after police say he left two young children locked inside a hot vehicle while he paid for and received a massage, later claiming he had only stepped away to get the children ice cream.
According to authorities, the incident occurred on June 10, 2026, in Springdale, Pennsylvania, where police responded to reports of children left unattended inside a vehicle parked near a local business. The case quickly drew attention after investigators revealed that temperatures inside the car may have exceeded 100 degrees while the children remained trapped inside.
Police Respond to Reports of Children Left in Vehicle
Officers were dispatched shortly after 3 p.m. following reports that two children had been left alone in a parked Dodge Dart near Glenn’s Frozen Custard. When police arrived, they located a 5-year-old boy and a 6-month-old infant girl inside the vehicle. According to court documents, the children had been left unattended while the vehicle sat in warm weather conditions.
A responding officer observed that the older child was conscious and awake. However, the infant appeared to be in significantly worse condition. Police reported that the baby was red, sweating heavily, and appeared unresponsive while seated inside the car. The officer was able to gain access to the vehicle, triggering the alarm in the process. Once inside, the officer determined that the infant was still breathing.
Father Emerges From Massage Business
The activated vehicle alarm soon drew the attention of the children’s father, identified by police as Jerry Rempuszewski. According to investigators, Rempuszewski emerged from Golden Wellness Body Work Massage shortly after the alarm sounded and was immediately detained by officers.
Police allege that when questioned about why the children had been left in the vehicle, Rempuszewski claimed that he had gone to get the children ice cream. However, investigators later reviewed surveillance footage and interviewed employees at the massage business, leading them to a very different conclusion.
Surveillance Footage Contradicts Explanation
According to court paperwork, surveillance video showed that the father parked the vehicle and left the children inside while entering the massage establishment. The footage allegedly revealed that the children remained inside the car for approximately 36 minutes.
Police noted that the vehicle’s windows were lowered only about three inches. Despite the slight opening, investigators believe temperatures inside the car climbed above 100 degrees. Weather data from the time indicated a “real feel” temperature of approximately 86 degrees with humidity levels around 63 percent, conditions that can cause temperatures inside enclosed vehicles to rise rapidly.
Massage Parlor Employees Speak With Investigators
Employees at Golden Wellness Body Work Massage reportedly told investigators that Rempuszewski did not arrive with a scheduled appointment. Instead, police say he entered the business, paid for a 30-minute massage, and remained inside while the children sat unattended in the vehicle.
Those statements directly contradicted the father’s claim that he had only briefly left the children while obtaining ice cream. Investigators included the information in charging documents supporting his arrest.
Infant Displayed Signs of Heat Distress
One of the most alarming details in the case involved the condition of the 6-month-old infant when officers arrived. According to police, the baby was visibly overheated, sweating heavily, and appeared unresponsive. Officers considered the situation serious enough to immediately intervene and remove both children from the vehicle.
Heat-related incidents involving children trapped in vehicles can become life-threatening within minutes, even when outside temperatures appear moderate. Investigators emphasized that the interior temperature of the vehicle likely surpassed 100 degrees during the period the children were left inside.
Children Transported to Hospital
After being removed from the vehicle, both children were taken for medical evaluation and treatment at UPMC Children’s Hospital. Authorities also notified the children’s mother about the incident.
Police later identified Rempuszewski as the biological father of the 6-month-old infant and the stepfather of the 5-year-old child.
Criminal Charges Filed
Following the investigation, Rempuszewski was arrested and transported to jail. Authorities said he was booked into the Allegheny County Jail and faces several charges related to the incident.
The charges include:
Endangering the Welfare of Children
Prosecutors allege that leaving the children unattended in dangerous conditions placed their health and safety at substantial risk.
Leaving an Unattended Child in a Motor Vehicle
Authorities say the children were unlawfully left alone inside the vehicle for more than half an hour while their father was inside another business.
Recklessly Endangering Another Person
Investigators contend that the conditions inside the vehicle created a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to both children, particularly the infant.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
As of the latest reports, Rempuszewski remains in custody while the criminal case moves through the Pennsylvania court system. Prosecutors are expected to rely on surveillance footage, witness statements from massage business employees, police observations, and medical evidence involving the children’s condition as the case proceeds.
The case serves as another example of the dangers associated with leaving children unattended inside vehicles, even for relatively short periods of time. Investigators noted that temperatures inside parked cars can rise dramatically within minutes, creating potentially fatal conditions for young children who are unable to escape on their own.
