Shanesha Taylor, a Phoenix woman arrested for leaving her two kids in a vehicle while on a job interview, has garnered an overwhelming amount of support. Over $99,000 has been donated to her with the help of New Jersey woman, Amanda Bishop.
The unemployed mom went to a job interview last month at a Scottsdale, Phoenix insurance company, leaving her 2-year-old son and 6-month-old baby in her Dodge Durango. The key was still in the ignition of the vehicle and the windows were rolled down an inch when a witness found the infant crying and sweating as temperatures in the car exceeded 100 degrees.
Bishop says that the story spoke to her because she grew up with a family that didn’t have much money and a mother that sometimes had to make “not the greatest choices” in order to provide for her and her siblings. Her goal was to raise $9,000 via Youcaring.com to pay for Taylor’s lawyer fees and was blown away when the goal was reached in four days and then exceeded by thousands of dollars.
“She could have been at a bar or at a club and leaving her children in the car,” said Bishop. “Here’s a woman who is an example of someone who is trying – who is trying to better her situation and doing what she can to provide for her children.”
Taylor’s story has drawn much debate in and outside of the courtroom. With comments on sites ranging from commending her for trying to dubbing her a child abuser.
Prosecutors have pointed out that her actions put her children in danger but at this time it is unclear whether she will face jail time or lose custody of her children.