Reported by: 9News
A friend and neighbor of a Tri-state woman – who forgot her two-year-old child was in her SUV on a scorching hot day – says people should show compassion, rather than rush to judgement.
That same friend and neighbor describes the Slaby family as All-American.
She adds that any modern day parent with a busy schedule could forget their child as Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby did.
"Brenda is very loving and devoted and she's a very good mother," said Gwen Balasubramaniam.
Balasubramaniam, who invites people to use "Bala," was at King's Island with her own children when Slaby's husband called her on that fatefull day.
"Gary had contacted me and asked me to go pick up Allison from her pre-school. It's not unusual, but I could tell he was upset," said Bala.
"So, I ask him what was wrong and he told me what happened, and he asked me to go get their other child Allison," Bala recounted.
That evening she tried to comfort Brenda Slaby.
"I actually spent the night with the family. I stayed over there, me and another friend," said Bala. "She [Slaby] came home from the hospital, she was in a state of shock and was just inconsolable."
"A lot of people look at her as a monster or an assistant principal who drives a Mercedes," said Bala.
"They're painting this picture of the wealthy who can buy their way out, or whatever, and they need to understand and realize that's not her character," asserts Bala.
She says Nesselroad-Slaby plans to seek counseling and hopes to one day caution other parents about the issue – so that it doesn't happen again.
