An Amazon worker was charged with involuntary manslaughter after her daughter died in a hot car.
PEOPLE reports
Ashlee Stallings left her child in the vehicle on June 26 to report for work at Amazon.
Amazon Worker Charged After Daughter Dies In Hot Car
The incident occurred in Charlotte,
North Carolina. Authorities stated the young victim
“was left in a vehicle in hot weather conditions and suffered a medical emergency.” The 36-year-old told police she “left the girl in the car with the air on, as she was at work.” However, Ashlee Stallings “believed the victim turned the car off because she was cold.”
An hour and a half later, Stallings returned to the vehicle and found her daughter “on the car’s backseat floorboard, unresponsive and foaming at the mouth.” She subsequently “broke through the car window with a hammer and attempted to drive to a hospital before stopping at a business for help.”
However, the girl “suffered from brain herniation due to hyperthermia, hospital staff informed police.”
Stallings reportedly “admitted she knew the temperature was 94 degrees outside and that she should not have left the victim inside the car alone.”
The heartbreaking incident occurred on June 26. Authorities responded to the scene around 6:30 pm. The child later died at the hospital.
The Charges The Mom Received For Her Daughter’s Death
Stallings was also charged with child
abuse by willful act causing serious injury. As mentioned, she also received an involuntary manslaughter charge. She was arrested the morning after her daughter’s death. Stallings bond is $250,000. She will appear in court on July 16. It remains unclear if she has obtained legal representation.
Officials report that the investigation is ongoing. Amazon told ABC NEWS, “This is an incredibly tragic incident.” The company added, “During this time, we’re supporting our employees and have made counseling resources widely available.” The mega-company is reportedly “working closely” with the police on the investigation.
This devastating loss highlights the urgent need for parents to be vigilant about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, especially during hot weather conditions. Experts emphasize the importance of creating safety measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
