Two mothers and a friend allegedly left ten children in a sweltering car for two hours while they drank in a bar.
Witnesses told police they saw the car parked outside Alibi Lounge in Springfield, Missouri, at around 1.10pm last Thursday.
The children inside were seen turning the car and air conditioning on to keep cool.
Mother of six of the children Mackisha B Johnson, 25, and Christopher M Jones, 38, were both arrested
Another suspect, Shacona Johnson, 30, mother of four of the children, left before police got there.
Police noted the temperature outside the car was 99 degrees with a heat index of 101 degrees that day.
None of the children, who ranged in age from seven months to 11, were hurt and were taken into custody of children services.
All three suspects have been charged with second degree child endangerment and, if convicted, face up to a year in prison, plus a $1,000 fine.
