An Ormond Beach man, Scott Allen Gardner, 33, has been arrested in connection with the tragic death of his 18-month-old son, Sebastian, who authorities say was left in a blisteringly hot truck. According to WFTV, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office claims Gardner left the child in the vehicle for over three hours on June 6, as he went for a haircut and visited Hanky Panky's Lounge for drinks.
The aftermath of this decision was a senseless loss, with officials reporting that the toddler's body temperature had soared to 111 degrees. In a troubling detail provided by WESH, Sheriff Michael Chitwood disclosed that, after the child's death, Gardner called 911 and gave multiple false accounts of what had transpired that day. Further, Chitwood noted that Gardner continued to drink at the lounge following the tragic event.
Gardner faces serious charges, including aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect. The same officer who tried to revive the young boy later arrested Gardner at his mother's home. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Ormond Beach Police Department, apprehended the father, signaling the grievous turn of events that led to young Sebastian's death.
