A Georgia mother is facing a second-degree murder charge after allegedly forgetting that her 1-year-old son was strapped inside a hot car for nearly nine hours while she worked at a hospital.
Deja Coleman, 29, began her day by driving her three children to daycare on Wednesday morning, according to Lawrenceville police.
Coleman reportedly dropped off her two older children but forgot to return to the vehicle for her baby, who remained secured in a car seat in the back.
She then drove to Northside Gwinnett Hospital, where she worked, and began her shift at approximately 6:55 a.m.
The baby remained inside the parked vehicle as temperatures climbed throughout the day.
At around 3:50 p.m., another hospital employee noticed the little boy slumped over in his car seat and called for help.
Police officers rushed to the vehicle and smashed a window to reach him.
Tragically, the child was already dead.
The temperature inside the car was reportedly still 117 degrees approximately one hour after officers broke the window.
Investigators said Coleman usually followed a strict morning routine to make sure all three children reached daycare safely.
One of her older children has special needs, making the family’s morning schedule particularly demanding.
“Her normal routine is to take the older kids into daycare, come back and retrieve the baby out of the car seat,” Lawrenceville Police Capt. Dena Pauly said during a news conference.
“Unfortunately, yesterday morning, she forgot to make that second trip to the car.”
Detectives said they did not believe Coleman was distracted by a phone or another specific activity.
Instead, investigators believe she may have been overwhelmed and unintentionally slipped out of her normal routine.
Police said Coleman was “devastated” when she learned that her son had died inside the vehicle.
Despite the apparent lack of intent, Coleman was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children.
She was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail.
Under Georgia law, second-degree murder can be charged when a child dies as a result of alleged cruelty to children, even when prosecutors do not claim that the accused person deliberately intended to cause the death.
The case is another heartbreaking reminder of how quickly the temperature inside a parked vehicle can become deadly, even when a parent believes they are following a familiar routine.
Pauly urged overwhelmed parents to pause, seek support and make sure they are physically and emotionally prepared to care for their children.
“Slow down,” she said. “Slow down in life. If you need help, seek help.”
“Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself so that you can take care of your children.”
Love American stupidity