Self-Centered TX Parents Sadly Abandon Kids In Car For Night Out

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What were they thinking?

We can't even make this up. A West Texas couple has been arrested on charges of child endangerment and neglect after a date night at Texas Roadhouse in Odessa.

So what's wrong with a date night?

Absolutely nothing. Unless... you can't find a sitter for your three little kids.

Cars do not make good babysitters.

Joseph Belis, 28, and Cassidy Belis, 27, have been arrested and officially charged with child endangerment and neglect after they left their three young children in the car for over an hour during which time it's reported that the self-centered couple had dinner and multiple drinks.

According to the arrest affidavit, as reported by WGN9, witnesses called 911 once they realized the three little kids had been left inside the vehicle. It is not known what tipped witnesses off but it isn't hard to imagine that the little children were probably uncomfortable and unhappy with being left in the vehicle and likely a concerned citizen saw their dilemma and reported it.

A shocking statistic for the U.S. regarding deaths of children left in vehicles.

It is also unknown if the car had sufficient air conditioning. Regardless, it's absolutely illegal to leave any child under the age of 15 in a vehicle. Once police arrived to rescue the children and arrest the parents they also found marijuana inside the console of the vehicle as well.

According to Kids in Cars, a non-profit dedicated to educating the public on the dangers of leaving children in vehicles, over 1,000 children have died in hot cars nationwide since 1990 alone.

How many times have we heard of children being casualties of carjackings as parents " run into the store really quick without them" and then the kids are inadvertently kidnapped along with the car?

The extra minute or two it takes to unbuckle and buckle them could be a matter of life and death.