Friends, family call boy's death in hot car a 'terrible accident'

KEARNS — A fence surrounds the property, apparently to keep children from running into the street or wandering off while playing outside.

A swing with a safety latch hangs from a tree. A play fort stands in the backyard. All are signs of a house where the parents have seemingly taken great care to keep their children safe.

But the yard, the swing and the fort stood vacant Tuesday as a family and a neighborhood mourned an 18-month-old boy who was accidentally left in a car seat inside a hot vehicle with the windows rolled up and died of apparent hyperthermia.

Salt Lake County sheriff's investigators were waiting for a final autopsy report Tuesday on young Myles Gailey but said there were no signs of foul play or traumatic injury.

Authorities, friends and family members say the boy's mother, father and three siblings, ages 10, 7 and 4, were devastated over the tragedy.

Friends and some family members gathered in front of the house Tuesday wanting the public to know what happened was nothing more than a terrible accident by a woman who loved her children and did her best to protect them.

"She was the best mother there was. She's a wonderful mother," said one neighbor. "It's hard on the whole neighborhood. We love her so much."

The family's supporters didn't want to give their names, saying they wanted to avoid bringing attention to the situation. They were also worried about sensationalized media reports criticizing the family. They said the mother is struggling and the blame she puts on herself is enough.

"I think that people who think they've never made a mistake ought to look at themselves. Who in raising their children hasn't ever made a mistake? It was a terrible accident and that's all it was," said one woman.

Sheriff's Lt. Paul Jaroscak concurred the mother was "absolutely devastated" over the incident. The family was reportedly making plans to stay at another location Tuesday to avoid further media attention.

Detectives were called to the house, near 5300 West and 5300 South, about 4 p.m. Monday. The mother told authorities she had just gotten home, unloaded groceries from her car and forgot about her son.

The boy's father was out of town Monday but returned Tuesday.

No arrests have been made in connection with the incident. Jaroscak said once all the evidence in the case is collected it will be turned over to the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office to determine if any charges are warranted.

The case is a tragic reminder about the dangers of leaving children in vehicles, according to medical professionals.