Mom Of Baby Found In Van: Incident Was Mistake

Originally published by WRTV, TheIndyChannel.com, July 30, 2002

A woman who was arrested after her infant was found in a locked van outside a Kmart says the incident was a mistake caused partly by a vehicle swap with her husband.

Stacie Faus and her daughter were inside the east-side store Sunday when a passerby saw Faus' 8-month-old son, Aaron, crying inside the van on the Kmart parking lot. The windows were up, and the temperature outside was in the 90s.

Faus was arrested after she was located about 30 minutes later. She was released on bail, and faces a preliminary charge of neglect of a dependent.

Aaron, who authorities said was soaked in sweat, was treated at a hospital. The state placed the boy and at least one of his siblings into the care of a grandmother.

At a news conference Monday with her lawyer in attendance, Faus said that she had no idea that she left Aaron in the van.

"I would never do anything to hurt my kids," Faus said through tears.

Faus said her husband had been driving with Aaron in the van earlier in the day. The couple then switched vehicles, and Faus drove to Kmart.

Faus said she forgot that Aaron was in the back of the van. Her husband, Kelly, backed up her account.

"She would never do anything like this," Kelly Faus said. "Our children come first. Stacie would never do this intentionally.

"We just thank God that Aaron is alright."

If prosecutors file a charge of neglect of a dependent, and if she is convicted on that charge, Stacie Faus could face up to three years in prison.