A Florida babysitter was arrested on Wednesday after the 10-month-old in her care died. The infant was allegedly left in a hot car for almost five hours, according to authorities.
According to a press statement from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida babysitter, identified as Rhonda Jewell, picked up the infant from the child’s mother’s house at approximately 8 a.m. Wednesday is the day. The 46-year-old Florida babysitter then drove south to another property, where she was also babysitting other children. When she arrived, authorities say she went inside, leaving the infant in the vehicle.
It wasn’t until about 1 pm when the mother came to pick up the child that the Florida babysitter allegedly realized the infant was still in the car, per the press release.
According to NBC, the National Weather Service reported temperatures in the area to be 97 degrees around that time. The temperature in the car was recorded at 133 degrees when the child was found.
According to WTLV, medical workers stated that the baby’s external temperature was 102.1 degrees while her internal temperature hit 110 degrees, but hospital officials informed police that 110 is the greatest temperature the thermometer could read.
According to Baker County police, the baby was taken to Fraser Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead. The Florida babysitter was then arrested and taken to the Baker County Detention Center. According to investigators, she has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a kid.
According to authorities, the Florida babysitter appeared in court for the first time on Thursday morning. Her bond has been set at $25,000, with GPS ankle tracking necessary after she is released.
According to Baker County police, the baby was taken to Fraser Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead. The Florida babysitter was then arrested and taken to the Baker County Detention Center. According to investigators, the Florida babysitter has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a kid.
It was unclear whether Jewell had entered a plea, and her lawyer, George Nelson, declined to comment.
Baker County Sheriff Scotty Rhoden wrote online Thursday that the department is urging everyone to respect the family’s privacy. Rhoden said it was difficult for him and his staff to reveal facts about the case. `
“Each of us is given the gift of life every morning we wake up, and every evening when we finish our day, we are blessed if our family is safe and healthy,” Rhoden said in the release. “Our world can be turned upside down in the blink of an eye. Please keep this in mind as you try to understand the tragedy that occurred in our small town yesterday.”
INCIDENT REPORT
According to the National Weather Service, more than 119 million people in the United States, including sections of Florida, were under heat advisories or excessive heat warnings Thursday evening.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 40 children die each year from heatstroke after being left in or trapped in vehicles.
The agency says that 53% of them die when someone forgets a child is in a car. It recommends that parents make a habit of constantly checking the back seat before locking doors and that everyone keep cars locked when not in use.