Young Parents Charged With Manslaughter After They Forgot 3-Year-Old Child Inside Hot Car Until Next Day

Two young parents in Alabama, US have been arrested and charged with manslaughter for forgetting their three-year-old child in their car, only to find him dead inside the hot vehicle the following day. 

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said 22-year-old Brandi Burks and 20-year-old Dakota Fowler have now been charged with manslaughter.

Medical personnel were reportedly called at about 4pm on Sunday, August 9 after the child was found unresponsive in the car that became hot as the local temperature on that day was at 93 degrees.

However, medics that arrived at the scene were unable to revive the toddler who had spent several hours in the hot car.

Officials said the parents told them they last saw the child around midnight on Saturday when the toddler was put to bed.

The parents told investigators they could not find the child when they woke up on Sunday afternoon around 3pm but later discovered that the child had been in the vehicle.

Following the child’s death, police initially said they do not believe that the child’s death was intentional.

Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said;

I don’t feel there was any intent there. I think it was neglect, which sadly cost the little guy’s life. It’s just a sad situation all around. These types of cases are really hard for everybody.

He however later spoke that the incident will be investigated over discrepancies in the parents statement, saying;

My belief that’s not all that happened. There’s more to that story and I feel that they’re going to be very forthcoming. You know it’s precious cargo, and it’s something that you really need to be aware of. You really need to think about that child or animal or anything in the vehicle that’s helpless and can’t get out.

The toddler’s body was sent to the Department of Forensics for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, although the investigation was still ongoing.

Evidence suggests that a 93-degree outside temperature can drive the temperature inside a sealed car to about 135-degrees in just 60 minutes.

The Alabama couple could get slammed with 20-year sentences if they are convicted of manslaughter.