Mesa woman charged with child abuse after leaving toddler in hot garage

Amy Nicole Shellhammer, 32, is facing felony child abuse charges in Mesa, Arizona, after allegedly leaving her 2-year-old son alone in a garage without air conditioning during extreme heat. According to court documents, the incident occurred around July 29, when temperatures in the Phoenix area reached approximately 111°F.

The situation came to light on August 1, when police responded to a fatal overdose at Shellhammer’s residence. A neighbor, described as a foster mother, informed officers that she had previously found the child sleeping in the garage and expressed concern due to the heat. Police noted it took approximately 20 to 30 minutes to wake the child after he was removed from the garage.

A medical evaluation of the toddler revealed the presence of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and THC in his system. Investigators stated that Shellhammer admitted to smoking these substances more than 10 times per day inside her residence in the presence of her son.

Shellhammer also faces charges for violating a 2025 protection order issued in Colorado, which prohibited her from having contact with the child. The child has been taken into custody by the Department of Child Safety.