Woman Arrested After Son, 2, Found Wandering In Cold

ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – Police have arrested a woman after her 2-year-old son was found wandering in the Ross Park Mall parking lot on Tuesday.

According to police, a security guard found the child wandering around 9:45 p.m. when the temperature was just 2 degrees with a wind chill of minus-9.

At the time, the child was only wearing blue jeans with a light weather jacket. Police also learned that he had been previously found wandering alone inside the mall for a period of time before being reunited with his mother.

"I don't think it was good parenting to have a child out at this time of night to begin with, let alone dressed in the manner he was," said Sgt. Benjamin Dripps, of Ross Township Police.

The mother has been identified as 37-year-old Kimberly Hollinda.

Police believe she is pregnant and suffering from mental illness.

"She had no good explanation for why the child was alone, outside and dressed in that manner," said Sgt. Dripps. "There was nothing in that conversation that led us to believe it was anything other than neglect."

Hollinda has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and is being held in the Allegheny County Jail.

Allegheny County Children and Family Services has since taken custody of the child.

Ross Park Mall has released this statement regarding the incident:
"We are thankful that a mall security officer was able to assist in resolving this unfortunate situation for the safety of the child."

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