Fort Myers couple hit with four child neglect charges

A Fort Myers man and woman have been charged with four counts of child neglect after Fort Myers police said they left their daughter unattended in a locked car in a store parking lot for more than a half-hour and also left three other young children alone at their home.

The 11-month-old girl was discovered crying and was rescued by a passerby who forced her way into the car via a slightly opened window. The child had a temperature of 101 when EMS examined her and was taken to Healthpark Hospital .

A police report said Carl Merrickes Jr., 27, and Lakisha Green, 22, told police they had forgotten that their daughter was in the car when they went shopping at the Wal-Mart on Six Mile Cypress shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday.

During the investigation it was discovered that three other children ages 9, 8 and 3 were left alone at a residence for about 2 hours before a family member was called to assist.

The Department of Children and Families was called to determine custody arrangements for the children.

Police said Green is also a child care worker at Redeemer Lutheran Church day care on Winkler Avenue Extension. A spokesman at the church said Green has been fired.