Nationwide — Deja Coleman, a 29-year-old African American mother from Lawrenceville, Georgia, faces charges after her 1-year-old son died after allegedly being left inside a hot car outside a hospital where she worked. Investigators said the child remained inside the vehicle for about nine hours as temperatures inside reached 117 degrees.
Coleman reportedly left her son in the locked car at the Northside Hospital Gwinnett parking lot on Wednesday while she completed her shift. Another hospital employee later discovered the child unresponsive inside the vehicle and alerted authorities, according to WJCL.
Emergency responders broke the car window and attempted to perform lifesaving measures, but the boy was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the vehicle was exposed to the afternoon heat, causing the interior temperature to rise to dangerous levels.
Investigators said Coleman had dropped off her two other children at daycare before heading to work. She told police she believed she had forgotten that her youngest child was still in the car.
Lawrenceville Police Capt. Dena Pauly said Coleman was “devastated” after the discovery of her son. Despite that, authorities arrested her and charged her with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children, both felony offenses.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death as the case moves forward.