As NJ couple gambled in casino, kids sat locked in freezing, parked car, cops say

A Newark couple has been charged with leaving their three children — ages 8, 3 and 1 — in a mini-van parked at the Parx Casino in Bensalem, Penn. while they went inside to gamble.

According to the a police complaint filed with a Bucks County Magisterial District Court, Jarrett Nelson, 39 and Ebony Walker, 30 parked their Dodge Journey minivan around 7:30 p.m, on Saturday night, turned the engine off and left Hyvonnah Walker, 8, Jassonah Nelson, 3, and Zada Nelson, 1 in the car.

Bensalem Police said the temperature was 31 degrees when they found the kids in the car as the parents returned to the minivan after  90 minutes.

Police said they used surveillance video to determine how long Walker and Nelson were in the casino just north of Philadelphia. They were each charged with reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of children

Police said the three children were in the backseat, the two youngest children in their car seats.

Walker and Nelson are being held at the Bucks County Jail in Doylestown in lieu of $50,000 bail.