Hot Car Death/Verdict Overturned

[SandBox]

Thanks, I’ll check it out!

[Blackcat31]

Talking about the incident with the 5 year old. My step mother did the exact same thing to her then 4 year old, but it was cool (fall) outside so she survived 4 hours in a vehicle by herself. My step mom had a routine change and had to run up to the school to do something. She was like head of something and had to organize and plan some event at the school. And she just runs in the school and completely leaves my step sister. And I won’t get into all the details of why, but my step mother is the exact type of person to do something like this. When she told me this story I wasn’t the least bit surprised. That is why I just think some are more prone than others. Maybe more severe sentencing risks would help. I don’t know. Maybe alarms would be beneficial for these types too.

If you have the time, here is a great thread about the many facets of this topic.
It's a bit of a tragic read type thread but a super informative one as well.....

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89515

[SandBox]

Talking about the incident with the 5 year old. My step mother did the exact same thing to her then 4 year old, but it was cool (fall) outside so she survived 4 hours in a vehicle by herself. My step mom had a routine change and had to run up to the school to do something. She was like head of something and had to organize and plan some event at the school. And she just runs in the school and completely leaves my step sister. And I won’t get into all the details of why, but my step mother is the exact type of person to do something like this. When she told me this story I wasn’t the least bit surprised. That is why I just think some are more prone than others. Maybe more severe sentencing risks would help. I don’t know. Maybe alarms would be beneficial for these types too.

[SandBox]

Those are really cool features! I do get though that it’s parent responsibility.

[GirlMomma]

MissCait when I owned a 2019 GMC Acadia SLT, it had an alarm system on it! If I opened one of the back doors to put something in there/a child, it would ding when I got out and would say something like “check the back seat” or “backseat reminder” I can’t remember. I think GM was very smart to do this. I think GM knows that car companies could be sued for not having this feature - if they aren’t being sued already. Although I believe keeping track of your child is 100% the parents responsibility, not the responsibility of the vehicle they drive.

The vehicle I have now is also made by GM. It doesn’t have this specific feature, but it does have motion sensors inside the vehicle and they will start the car alarm if motion is sensed inside the vehicle while locked. I think it’s sensitive. I have a necklace around my rear view mirror. I left the sunroof open one day. Every time the wind blew, the necklace would sway and the car alarm would go off.

[SandBox]

Blackcat31

If it has gotten worse then it’s probably because people are too distracted these days. Cell phone being probably the main reason. And cell phone addiction is not taken serious enough. Also could be increased medication use. Like the medicines that effect the brain. Could be all sorts of reasons.

Anyway, yea you’re right that those things can’t always be relied on.

I believe there are people like you or me that we probably are incapable of leaving a child in the car. Our brain just wouldn’t do that. But not everyone is like us. And sense I’m not in there head, I can’t say what went wrong.
I have no idea why that mother didn’t check. I need to read more on it later as this just happened. I can maybe go 15 minutes at a time without thinking about my kids and where they are, but no I’ve never been preoccupied that long either to completely forget them. I also always lock my doors. So my kids and myself are at the door together waiting to unlock it. But I can’t say every home is like that and i know many people don’t lock their doors. Anyway, it makes you wonder was this person just a crap mother? Was she always neglectful and preoccupied and didn’t really care about her kids? Or was she like amazing mother and always attentive and this was like some rare accident? That’s what we will never know.

[SandBox]

Blackcat31

You’re right he is completely guilty of that. I don’t think they can try him twice for the same case. I wish they had gone more the route of proving his behavior and his decisions made him a neglectful and irresponsible father that lead to him killing his son. He probably couldn’t have appealed that.

[Blackcat31]

It is a shame the justice system messed up. Hopefully they are able to move on and retry him and/or charge him differently but either way, he’s still guilty of taking a life. Intentional or not

[Blackcat31]

I agree it happens but I believe it can stop happening. It’s gotten worse/more common in recent years. There is a reason for that.
I also believe that charges and prison time will help detour it from happening.

Accidents are accidents but there is still a need for accountability and responsibility.

The 5 yr old you mentioned is a perfect example… the parent was so preoccupied with planning a party that they forgot about the child. In my mind, that makes zero sense. “Thought” the child ran into their room? Why not make sure? Double check? The child was 5. 5 yr olds still require supervision.

Car alarms, smart phones reminders etc? I disagree…. Nothing can replace actual supervision. This is why oxygen sensors such as Owlets are not permitted in childcare. Those types of things provide a false sense of security. Plus imagine the liability if one of those reminders failed. The parents would be suing car manufacturers and cell phone companies faster than imaginable.

Like I said, I understand getting sidetracked for a moment or two but NEVER long enough that a child is injured or dies. If that happens then charges should be filed.

I don’t care about this guys sex life or his intentions… his child died because he forgot him. In my eyes that’s 100% unforgivable. My children are in their 30ies and as a parent there isn’t a day that passes in which I don’t think of them multiple times a day.

[SandBox]

FTR I have never forgot a child in a car. Not sure I ever will. I don’t understand how it happens for all of these cases. Some of the cases I read I’m totally judging the adult that did it. I judge this dude. I believe if he had been a decent human being and not preoccupied sexting 6 different people, this wouldn’t have happened. I don’t think they should have made up a story and motive with no evidence over his cheating to nail him. All the evidence they provided proved he was a pervert, not a murderer. They used all that info to sway the jury though. This is happening right now because they did their job wrong. The guy appealed the intent to murder his son charge and he won because there was no evidence for it. 🤷🏼♀️ He will get what’s coming to him though.

[SandBox]

Blackcat31

Yea but it happens and that’s why it happens. It’s not going to stop happening either. Especially when there is no intent or decision in it happening. So, they can charge and prison all they want, but it will still happen. Unless cars can set off alarms hooked to your phone or some sort of alarm on the car when the car is off and there is weight on the seat.

This man was charged with murder because he was a cheater. I was saying that I don’t know that a murder
charge was right. Not saying he doesn’t deserve some
form jail time. He was having affairs and actively being a total douche and his selfish decisions I believe caused this accident. He deserves some form of punishment.

I just read about a 5 year old that was killed left in the car. It was a rental car, they were rushing and preoccupied getting ready for a birthday party. Everyone ran inside. Mother assumed 5 year old got out like he always does. But because it was a rental they are thinking he didn’t know how to get out. She probably assumed he ran in house and went to his room to play or something. Like it’s tragic. I cannot imagine what she is feeling right now and it was an accident. I don’t know that I’d want parents like her in jail. She’s in hell as it is. The cell she takes up and taxes go to, deserves a worser person in there.

[Blackcat31]

I have known people to leave their kids in the car but thankfully nothing happened. Just depends on what is going on in your head and how much you’re on auto pilot. And routine changes is a lot of the reason this happens.

I understand how it can happen but no matter the reason, it's still unacceptable.
It's unfathomable to me that there is ANY excuse for a parent to justify forgetting their child and causing death.
Their child is their first and most important responsibility.
I think every parent that forgets their child in a car and the child dies, the parent SHOULD be charged for it.

[SandBox]

I don’t know the evidence that shows he murdered his son, just that he was a pervert and pedophile. His ex wife called him a loving and proud father but terrible husband. That can be true for many. I don’t know that I agree someone deserves murder charges just because they cheat.

I have known people to leave their kids in the car but thankfully nothing happened. Just depends on what is going on in your head and how much you’re on auto pilot. And routine changes is a lot of the reason this happens. This guy was like sexting 6 different people it said on the day of his son’s death. Plus working. If he’s truly innocent, he was probably too occupied mentally. Probably sexting while
driving around. He has an addiction it sounds like. Selfish douche. Sorry his son had to pay for his complete stupidity.

[Cat Herder]

I don't think he will survive being let out. This case is pretty local to me. People are really fired up over this guy.....

[Sahm121]

There were so many things wrong with this one. Didn’t he have a weird set of questions he had googled (something about temp In car and death). And I think I remember the police officer saying that there’s no way he didn’t notice the odor in the car when he went to it during lunch. The child suffered a horrible painful death. It was brutal following this case.