A mum is facing criminal charges after she allegedly locked her son in the boot of her car to avoid catching Covid after he tested positive for the virus.
The 13-year-old was discovered in the boot at a drive-through clinic, where his mother had taken her son for additional testing on January 3.
A witness raised the alarm after hearing something in the boot, court documents allege.
According to local publication KHOU-11, the mum then told an employee the teen was in the boot because she was trying to avoid being exposed to Covid-19.
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When the health worker asked to see the child, the mum obliged and unlatched the boot, court documents said.
The 13-year-old was found inside without any safety restraints.
Local media reports said Beam was now on administrative leave from her teaching job at Cypress Falls High School.
"CFPD was alerted that a child was in the trunk of a car at a drive-thru Covid-19 testing site earlier this week," the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School Dimstrict said in a statement to KPRC.
"Law enforcement conducted a full investigation, resulting in a warrant for arrest. Thankfully, the child was not harmed."
Sgt. Richard Standifer, from the the Texas Department of Public Safety, said he had never heard of someone being put in a boot because they tested positive for Covid-19.