Mother charged after unattended toddler nearly strangled himself with vehicle’s moonroof, police say

BELTON, Texas — A Texas mother has been charged with injury to a child after her toddler nearly strangled himself while left alone in a vehicle, police said.

Angela Celeste Moreno, 24, of Belton, was arrested on March 26 and booked into the Bell County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

The incident occurred on October 10, 2024, when Belton police and emergency responders were dispatched to a local restaurant around 9 p.m. after receiving reports of an unconscious child who was not breathing.

Upon arrival, officers found restaurant staff performing life-saving measures on the 3-year-old boy.

According to police, Moreno had left her two children, ages 3 and 1, unattended and unsecured in her vehicle while she went inside the restaurant to pick up a DoorDash delivery order. Approximately 10 minutes later, she returned to find her 3-year-old son trapped in the moonroof of the car.

Investigators said the toddler had climbed up and stuck his head through the opening but accidentally closed the power moonroof on himself using the car’s ceiling-mounted button. Unable to free himself, the child’s breathing was cut off.

Emergency responders transported the boy to McLane Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Fortunately, he survived.

After a months-long investigation, the Bell County District Attorney’s Office accepted the injury to a child charge against Moreno on March 26.

Authorities continue to remind parents about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, especially with access to power-operated features.