MEGA
A woman has been charged after her 8-year-old daughter died when she was “left in a vehicle in hot weather conditions,” authorities said. On Wednesday, June 26, around 6:30 p.m. local time, officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to a distress call in Charlotte, North Carolina. Upon arrival, they found the child in critical condition. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to a news release from the department.
Following an on-scene investigation, the department’s Homicide Unit concluded that “the victim was left in a vehicle in hot weather conditions and suffered a medical emergency.” The girl’s mother, Ashlee Stallings, 36, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse by willful act causing serious injury. She has been transferred to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.
“The investigation into this case is active and ongoing,” the department stated, urging anyone with additional information to come forward. “As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD’s Public Affairs Office.”
According to hospital staff, the girl suffered from brain herniation due to hyperthermia, as reported to police in an affidavit obtained by ABC News. Stallings is now being held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 16. It is not immediately clear if she has legal representation to comment on her behalf.
Local outlet WSOC reported that Stallings was employed at an Amazon facility. The company has expressed its deep condolences and stated that it is “working closely” with police on the investigation. “This is an incredibly tragic incident,” Amazon said, according to ABC News. “During this difficult time, we’re supporting our employees and have made counseling resources widely available.”
Nonprofit organization Kids and Car Safety reports that this incident marks the fifth confirmed hot car death this year and the first in North Carolina in 2024. The other four children who died in similar circumstances were from California, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida, ranging in age from 2 months to 6 years old.
The tragic event underscores the importance of vigilance and awareness regarding child safety in vehicles, particularly during hot weather. Authorities and child safety advocates continue to stress the dangers of leaving children unattended in cars, even for short periods. This heartbreaking case serves as a stark reminder of the potentially fatal consequences of such actions.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
