Texas mom charged after teen child found in trunk of car at COVID-19 testing site

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A Houston-area mother whose 13-year-old child previously tested positive for COVID-19 is facing charges after the teenager was found in the trunk of her car at a drive-thru testing site.

Sarah Beam, 42, who is a teacher for the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, is charged with felony endangering a child, according to court documents. 

"CFPD was alerted that a child was in the trunk of a car at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site earlier this week," a Cy-Fair ISD statement to Fox News said. "Law enforcement conducted a full investigation, resulting in a warrant for arrest."

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Roane General Hospital nurse Chania Batten is shown at a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, in Spencer, W.Va. A Texas woman is facing child endangerment charges after her teenage child who tested positive for COVID was found in the trunk of her car at a testing site. 

The Jan. 3 incident occurred at a testing site at Pridgeon Stadium in northwest Harris County. Bevin Gordon, the district director of health services, told a Cy-Fair police officer she was gathering information from vehicles in line for COVID testing when she confirmed with Beam that a child was in the trunk of her car. 

Beam allegedly told Gordon the child had previously tested positive for COVID and said she put her inside the trunk to prevent her from getting exposed again while driving to the stadium for additional testing, the complaint said. 

Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. (Google Maps)

When Beam unlocked the trunk, Gordon saw the teen lying down, the documents said. Beam was informed the test would only be administered when the child moved to the back seat of the vehicle. Investigators reviewed surveillance cameras that show the child moving from the trunk to the back seat, prosecutors said. 

After Gordon called the police and returned to the car, she saw the teen was seated in the back. The child was not harmed, officials said. 

Beam is a teacher with the district and has been placed on administrative leave, the district told Fox News.

Healthcare workers administer nasal swabs to drivers and passengers at a drive-through COVID-19 testing site at Zoo Miami on Monday.

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The incident is one of many bizarre actions undertaken by some who are fearful of COVID-19. Last year, a California man hid in Chicago's O’Hare International Airport for three months because he was afraid to fly because of transmission fears.