In Hamlet, North Carolina, a 7-month-old infant was found unresponsive in a hot minivan on Monday afternoon. As per WBTV, police were dispatched to a home on Charlotte Street around 6 p.m., where they found the child and attempted lifesaving measures. The infant was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The foster mother, 59-year-old Djuna Tillman Bostick, has been charged with negligent child abuse and involuntary manslaughter. At the time of the incident, outside temperatures were around 90 degrees. According to The Richmond Observer, a prior demonstration by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office showed that vehicle interiors can become approximately 30 degrees hotter than the external temperature.
Amy Hamilton Forester from Safe Kids Mid-Carolinas Region told WSOC-TV that changes in routine or caregivers can lead to oversights with serious consequences. On average, 39 children die each year in the U.S. from heat exposure in vehicles, according to Safe Kids.
The Hamlet Police Department is continuing its investigation. Bostick was released on a $500,000 bond yesterday and is scheduled to appear in Richmond County court on June 23.
