Deseret News | Davis County prosecutors to screen charges for baby left in hot car

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Davis County prosecutors to screen charges for baby left in hot car

Please remember Gage! | 10:01 a.m. June 24, 2008

I hope this mother isn't prosecuted. What she is going through is enough of a punishment, she needs our support, we all do dumb things. Remember the story back in 2002: Paul Wayment left his son Gage in a truck while he scouted for deer. Gage wandered from the truck and froze to death. Judge Hilder sentenced Paul- Paul, grief and in pain, committed suicide. Had the courts dealt with Paul differently, Paul would probably still be alive today. A baby is dead, don't add a parent to that list.

Clare | 10:19 a.m. June 24, 2008

Unless there is some proof that his mother decided to rid herself of this child by leaving him in the car on purpose, I say let it go. I feel nothing, but sympathy for this poor woman. I hope she can forgive herself.

Anonymous | 10:28 a.m. June 24, 2008

Soory but if it was a daycare provider you would see people saying she needs tyo be prosecuted. Parents should look out for there children. The mother did not do as a mother should and care for her child. I don't think jail is the answer but we need to send a message that if you have children you need to make sure they are cared for. Don't just leave them in the car like an old bag. We have a double standard if it was daycare people would be jumping up and say send her to jail.

Comments continue below

mother | 10:36 a.m. June 24, 2008

I think they need to look at this case, think of the way this baby suffered and later died. I don't know how anyone could forget their baby. I do feel very sad for the mother, I don't know how anyone could get past such a tragedy. This tragedy needs to serve as a reminder to all of us who are parents!

GB | 10:47 a.m. June 24, 2008

These cases seem to play out the same way:

If the baby survives, the parent goes to jail.

If the baby dies, the parent goes free because they've "suffered enough."

Seems rather backwards.

A thought | 11:02 a.m. June 24, 2008

Anyone who has had multiple sleepless nights with a small infant can attest to the affect it has on your brain and memory. I've been sick with sympathy for this poor mother and baby. What a horrible, unfortunate event. I hope any judgements are truly just in the eyes of God and man. Remember, even the Savior's own parents forgot him once. True, the details differed, but perfection has only been found in one person, ever.

mother | 11:02 a.m. June 24, 2008

Being a mother myself I honestly don't know how a mother could forget a baby in a car especially for 2 hours.. HEARTBREAKING !!!!

So sad | 11:28 a.m. June 24, 2008

I really feel for the mother, but I just do not understand how you can forget your child. Lack of sleep in my personal opinion is just a bad excuse. She was awake enough to load him in the car. But couldn't remember to get him out. Something is not right about the whole thing. Wake up parents. Be PRESENT to your life and to your children's lives!!

Even an 18 year old get it! | 12:15 p.m. June 24, 2008

My son who's 18 and I talked about this last night and he asked me, "how can a parent forget their child, if she went in to visit someone, wouldn't that person ask where the baby was"? Wouldn't you respond, he's at the babysitters, in the car, with his dad, home, etc? My son couldn't believe that someone would leave a baby in the car and he's 18! So if an 18 year old MAN can figure it out why can't a mother. I'm sorry for their loss, I've been there and that loss is always with you, but think about how that baby felt roasting in the car screaming, who answered him? If someone shakes a baby and causes a death don't they feel the same remorse, yet they get prosecuted, if you leave a baby in a tub for 2 second and they drown, they get prosecuted for neglect, should be the same standards, be responsible for your actions. In this state is called an oxy-moron.

Steve | 12:17 p.m. June 24, 2008

What good would it be to prosecute the mother? By putting her in jail will she be more likely not to do this again? I donï¿½t think so. I think the message is clear. Would the message to the public by putting her in jail stop somebody else from making this mistake? No! People are not going to think wow I better remember to take my kid inside because I could be sent to jail. This does not happen on purpose! The mother and family will suffer for the rest of their life! Leave them alone!

Layton Resident | 12:25 p.m. June 24, 2008

I drive through Layton every day. I often have the Layton PD follow me to see if I go one mile over the speed limit. So far I have not gotten a ticket. If I ever go 40 miles per hour in a 30 mile zone and get a ticket I can say "I am sorry I forgot the speed limit changed going down that hill. I have already sufferd enough"

Young mom | 12:30 p.m. June 24, 2008

When I was a very young mom I parked my car in the shade. I rolled down all the windows. I sat on the lawn 10 feet from my sleeping toddler. I knew he would wake in 10-15 minutes. He did not wake. I got him out of the car. He was very hot and sweaty. I cooled him off and took him to the Dr. I thank the Lord he was OK.

Re: Gage | 12:32 p.m. June 24, 2008

To the "Gage" poster it was the guilt the man felt not the laws reaction to the neglect that caused the man to kill himself.

Most parents would not want to live if they knew they caused the death of their own child.

It Does Happen | 12:39 p.m. June 24, 2008

If I hadn't known someone personally that this happened to, only the baby was lucky enough to live, than I would maybe be calling this negligent. But the person that I know this happened to was and is a wonderful mother who would never harm her children.

People CAN forget their sleeping children in the back seat of their cars. It happens to good parents. A good parent does not equal a perfect parent. Intentions do count for something.

I think that a good idea is for someone to come up with a car window sticker that reminds people to check for babies as they are getting out.

Since this happens all too often, maybe there needs to be more attention brought to prevention. There must be prevention for those parents who CAN forget their children in the car. Maybe that is not you. Maybe you would never do that. But instead of thinking that everyone is the same as you, why not assume that we are all different and yet most people have good intentions, especially when it comes to the safety of their children.

It's a pickle... | 12:51 p.m. June 24, 2008

You think of that poor 5 month old baby roasting in the car with no relief in sight, and the mother, who is completely responsible for a helpless child "forgot" for 2 hours. Am sure she feels much anguish and pain. And then this little one dies, and am sure than anguish increases many times over. She is suffering, her family is suffering... but so did that little baby. Will she ever do it again? HIGHLY doubt it. But does that mean she should get off for negligence? It's a pickle, isn't it? I hope the DA's office makes the right choice. There have been tons of comments on this site as well as others about how people feel about this... so people are paying attention to it, and hopefully, will save another child's life from something like this. It's unfortunate that these tragedies are sometimes needed for people/parents to take notice. But if some parent/person out there remembers this story, and is more careful than they normally would have been, it might save another little one. So, is it worth it to prosecute? I wouldn't want to make that decision. My prayers are with the family.

Mistake | 12:59 p.m. June 24, 2008

This is a horrible mistake...she will have to live with. It will haunt her dreams at night and during the day. I am sure she will play this over in her mind for eternity.
The law will decide if this is a punishable crime and the rest of us just need to remember to check for children in our cars.
The only things I can say is do not judge, because it could happen to anyone.

Instead of jail... | 12:59 p.m. June 24, 2008

I think a better solution would be to have this mother, and possibly other parents who've had similar situations happen to them, be part of a public service video reminding all of us to be more aware of what we do, where our children are, and to TAKE TIME to remember. We are in such a hurry-up world that we often don't slow down enough to just think. I will not make judgments about her. She has 2 other children, I think, and she has not forgotten them in the car. I don't presume to know why she forgot this little boy. I am so sad for this family. I hope they will get appropriate counseling to help them deal with it. I hope they will not play the "blame game" with each other and just love and support each other through this tragedy. Their little boy is fine. Yes, he suffered, and that is very sad, but he is fine now, and they can someday be with him. My prayers are with them.

2 1/2 years ago... | 1:22 p.m. June 24, 2008

our daughter-in-law stopped to pick up a check from her dad to buy his groceries. Her 18-month-old daughter was asleep in the back seat of their truck, in a child car seat, within 10 feet of her mother, never out of sight. A man on drugs saw the truck, jumped in and drove off with our daughter-in-law chasing him on foot, pounding on the truck to stop, that her baby was inside. This began a police chase that topped 100 miles per hour, and ended with the baby safe, the truck completely demolished, and the man off to jail (now prison). Very scary. This incident nearly tore apart their family, as parents blamed each other. It has taken a lot of time, healing, forgiving, and good counseling to keep them together. They have 3 girls. That's why I said in an earlier post to not play the "blame game." It accomplishes nothing but tearing your family apart. Our son's situation ended well, but it could have been a tragedy. Life is fragile and things can change in an instant. I hope friends and family will be compassionate, and support BOTH parents, and the remaining children through this difficult time.

Nope | 2:12 p.m. June 24, 2008

There is absolutely no excuse for this. Not a one!

I forgot once too | 2:16 p.m. June 24, 2008

For those ignorant posters who feel "how could a mother forget her child?" My reply...EASY! Like I once did, you shop with your toddler strapped in the car seat. By the time you arrive at the Macy's stock up sale, your sweet child is sound asleep in the back of the van (the van with no air conditioning on a hot day mind you) and you are in "shop mode" with the list on your mind and no sound coming from the back seat. Because you are so focused on "the sale" and your list, and because it's been quiet in the backseat for so long (it took over ten minutes just to get to the store), you go straight to the stock up items in the parking lot and start shopping. TWENTY MINUTES LATER, as you are about to check out, you look at the front of your cart and realize MY CHILD IS IN THE CAR!!! You race to your hot little boy and hold him in your arms and leave behind the items you were going to buy and race him home and try to forgive yourself and thank God he's alive unlike so many others.

Seriously? | 2:23 p.m. June 24, 2008

Accidents happen all too often. Sometimes these accidents result in the death or injury of our beloved children.

What really grinds my nerves is the witch hunt that officials seem to go on in order to "make someone pay" for their "crimes."

The definition of crime goes something like: "an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the state and that is legally prohibited."

Was this mother negligent? Was there really a crime committed? We, the public, to whom law enforcement personnel is accountable, don't have all the facts. It's hard for us to say.

Justice is defined as: the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness.

So, the question is, was there an actual CRIME committed? And if a crime actually HAS been committed, what does justice require? A prison sentence? Community service? What?

Given the track record of law enforcement (think about Paul Wayment), I don't trust them to make the right choice. They're looking for an EXCUSE to nail her with the WORST charge they can find.

And that, my friends, isn't justice.

another option | 2:35 p.m. June 24, 2008

I don't think jail is appropriate, but a required lifetime of community service to remind other parents to be more alert would be helpful for everyone. She can speak regularly at groups and school PTA meetings and such to bring awareness.

Just saying she has already suffered doesn't mean much -- why should she not suffer everyone else in the family and all who know them are suffering.

Witch hanging? | 2:46 p.m. June 24, 2008

Lets all have a medieval witch hanging here. People act the same now as they did 700 years ago.

frank | 2:49 p.m. June 24, 2008

Proscute her! Then put her on probation. This is terrible. The family is under much pressure now. Think of other unprotective children, who are powerless for these kinds of brainless mistakes.

Elizabeth | 2:51 p.m. June 24, 2008

To Anon:

The difference between a mother (parent) and a daycare provider is the daycare provider is paid while entrusted with the child.

It's a similiar game, but a whole different can of worms.

KP | 3:20 p.m. June 24, 2008

I think she should be prosecuted, but the sentence should be manditory parenting classes or community service and probation, not jail, absolutely not jail. There should be a legal consequence for her negligence. Whether she meant to neglect her child or not, she did. It could happen to any parent, to any of us, and we should all know what the legal consequence will be.

CO Coug | 3:23 p.m. June 24, 2008

I'm sorry we all make mistakes, I can see leaving a child accidentally for 10 minutes or something in your car, but for HOURS? Wouldn't she realize something was missing at the friends house? When you have a six-month old, you are basically attached to each other unless you are at home. I just don't get it, somethings just not right. I hope and pray for this poor mother's sake that there wasn't any kind of foul play going on in the house.

Not judging, just trying somehow to understand how this could still happen over and over again.

a mother | 3:43 p.m. June 24, 2008

If the police are going to screen her for criminal charges, why don't they ALSO screen her for postpartum depression (which would be doubly worse after this incident as well).

fr1nk | 4:09 p.m. June 24, 2008

I cant understand how you people can stick up for this woman who killed her child through her negligence. I dont care if she is sorry, she still did it. It is a crime and she should face up to that crime.

Stop the insanity | 4:47 p.m. June 24, 2008

This is stupid. People donï¿½t forget, they get lazy, or donï¿½t want to go to the trouble of waking the baby and taking him out of the car seat. I want to see some kind of legal intervention (even if a judge determines probation is appropriate) in EVERY ONE of these types of cases. Otherwise the message is being sent that it is okay to neglect a child to the point of death just as long as it happens in a car and the parent or caregiver says they ï¿½forgot.ï¿½

Should be a penalty | 5:16 p.m. June 24, 2008

Anonymous | 10:28 a.m was 100% right on, if it was a day care worker there would be criminal charges.A parent should not be let go on a lessor standard.

Forgetful | 5:57 p.m. June 24, 2008

I accidently burned some cookies the other day, because I forgot about them. I felt bad. How could I be so forgetful?

In all reality, I just got sidetracked, and was paying attention to something else. It is so easy to do...

However, this situation is simply tragic! I hope that something like this never happens to any of you, because it very well could. This poor mother has to live the rest of her life with this gut-wrenching tragedy.

I hope that she is shown some mercy...

Enough! | 7:04 p.m. June 24, 2008

Every week in Utah, some poor kid dies from being left in a car, run over in a driveway or drowned because of inattentive parents. Yes- the mom should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Maybe-just maybe, it will be a wake up call to parents that take kids lives so casually. Here's a GREAT idea! Have T. Monson & all church leaders proclaim that being an indifferent parent, resulting in the death of your kid- is grounds for excommunication! Maybe then, the majority of Utahan's will care for ALL of their kids.

Re:Stop the insanity | 4:47 p.m. | 7:14 p.m. June 24, 2008

No, you are wrong. People do forget. Good people do forget. Babies fall asleep, and with that silence people forget.

I bring this up because I think it's an important issue. There are warnings in the car for children not to sit in the front due to airbags. Because of accidents where children were killed. Trunks are now being made so that people can get out easier if they are trapped. Because people have gotten trapped and killed.

Now in my opinion, someone needs to make stickers or some sort of reminder to check the back seat for babies before leaving the car. People do forget, and it will keep happening. So let's try to do everything we can to help prevent.

Anonymous | 7:42 p.m. June 24, 2008

I'm not sure how to take it as I read through the 'she's suffered enough' commentary. I don't wish this situation on anyone. But,if she had an abortion, we'd be looking for more suffering, without ever considering the suffering it took to get to that decision. If she so much as thought of having a beer within hours of this incident, we'd be in the streets with pitchforks, and tightening up the liquor laws as well.
Hyperbole aside, it's interesting to see the forgiveness in this instance. It would be nice to see it in more cases.

new idea | 8:07 p.m. June 24, 2008

So many people seem to think she was a good mother in spite of this and that this has no bearing on her ability to raise her other children and blah, blah, blah...

So here is a new take on it - maybe it was not the child that was the problem, but the car. I mean think about it - how many parents have left their children unattended in a stroller in a parking lot or a driveway on a hot day? If you have a stroller, it is kind of hard to forget you have a kid...

Instead of taking away her other kids - let's take away her car and her driver's license. From now until her youngest child is 18, she has to take public transportation, walk, or get a ride from a responsible friend, family member, or her spouse. And if she leaves a child in the car of the responsible driver, both she and the responsible driver get automatic jail time.

Felony conviction | 9:49 p.m. June 24, 2008

I hope the DA's office considers ALL the facts of this carefully. I agree this was a horrible thing to happen and terribly sad for this family, too. I agree that if the mother is a normal person, she is going to suffer terribly, no matter what happens next.

BUT, have you considered the ramifications of a felony conviction after you've paid your debt to society? You lose your right to vote (maybe most people wouldn't care, but it is precious to me). You can never own a gun (might not matter to you unless you are a hunter or a target shooter). You are prohibited in many states from ever working at any job in the medical profession. You can never be a teacher. You can't join the service under normal conditions. You can't get most state or federal jobs. You will never be trusted by many people. Your credit report will suffer. Many landlords refuse to rent to convicted felons.

As to the comment about President Monson--he spoke at the funeral of a child I knew--whose father accidently ran over the child in the driveway. He gave comfort to the father, as well as the whole family.

million dollar babies | 9:52 p.m. June 24, 2008

Would she leave a million dollars unattended for even a moment where something bad could happen to it and she wouldn't have it anymore? Not on your life. Things that are truly valued and cherished are not "accidentally" forgotten. Children are worth far more than that and it's about time parents started treating their kids like the priceless gift that they are. I'm appalled at the numbers of very small children who are allowed to wander outside without an adult in sight. Apparently people in Utah think that pedophiles don't live in their neighborhood. Think again. I googled my ca address on the family watchdog website and I have 32 pedophiles living within 10 miles of my home. My friend in Orem has 148 in the same area. Dogs, cars and bullies are also a real threat. That 3 year who drowned at Lake Powell because her parents didn't watch her or make her wear a life jacket would be alive today if her parents treated her like a million dollars. Stop and remind yourself how precious your little ones (and not so little ones) are and act accordingly. Please, please, please, no more tragedies like this.

gene pool | 9:56 p.m. June 24, 2008

The fact that Wayment killed himself was his choice, not because he was rightly charged in his son's death. at least he won't have any more kids to neglect.

Re: Million Dollar Baby | 10:23 p.m. June 24, 2008

Wow. You are right. We should all be afraid of everything constantly. That way we will avoid anything bad ever happening to us. In fact, we should never leave our house or even open our blinds.

million dollar babies | 10:42 p.m. June 24, 2008

I didn't say we should be afraid of everything. I'm talking about kids being neglected outside. If you had a million dollars in a safe place, you wouldn't need to watch it every second. Same with kids. Babyproof your house, fence in your backyard, sit outside when your little ones play out front or go to the park with them. the careful supervision a young child REQUIRES isn't the same supervision an older child needs. That's why new drivers need a learners permit first and then have a graduated license. That has saved a huge number of teenage lives. Like it or not, pedophiles are a real danger, so are cars and stray dogs and bullies. I remember a 2 year old in utah being murdered by a neighborhood teenager because she cried while he was molesting her. he said she was an easy target because she never had anyone watching her. This happened in Clearfied about 20 years ago. Rachel Runyan was 3 and kidnapped from a park near her home and later found murdered. She was at the park with no adults. This was 25 years ago. Wake up and stop rationalizing your own poor parenting.

Re: Million Dollar Babies | 11:54 p.m. June 24, 2008

You have guts to say someone you have never met is a poor parent. Everyone knows there are dangers out there. You seem to be pointing fingers at Utah parents. I just find your post interesting, that's all. Unlike you, I think that MOST parents love and care for their children and aren't neglectful. Most people ARE aware and cautious of pedophiles and dogs and bullies. It's just that the ones who mess up get a lot of media attention, and that might make it look like there's a whole bunch of loser parents out there. I don't believe that. I believe the MAJORITY are good parents who treat their children better than a million dollars.

million dollar babies | 12:44 a.m. June 25, 2008

open your eyes and look around your neighborhood as though you'd never seen it before. i guarantee you'll see little kids being ignored. now next time you visit another state, see how many little kids are ignored. big difference if utah parents are so great, why does utah, one of 50 states have 20% of heat deaths in the us? that is appalling and i believe it is because MANY utah parents DO NOT adequately supervise their kids. maybe it's because they have more than they can handle or they think that nothing truly bad can happen in "zion" There are other posts on this thread who say the same thing. they relocated to utah and are shocked to see how little supervision young children have. i'm not saying ALL utah parents are neglectful. i just know that alot are and i believe it is because it is acceptable there to leave small children home alone, while mommy runs errands or lock very young kids out so you can clean your house uninterrupted. They assume a neighbor will keep an eye on them. i lived there for 30 years and know this to be a fact.

O

GoodGuyGary | 7:58 p.m. June 25, 2008

Didn't the same thing happen not long ago in the same state? People were saying the mother should not go to jail, and blah blah blah. And it seems like some people still think the "mother suffer enough". But sorry to say, even though he/she is your child, you have no right to get him/her killed. Again, this case should be treated as a murder case.

Personal Friend | 1:00 a.m. July 6, 2008

Two years ago I moved into a new neighborhood and became friends with a wonderful family....This mother of two is a wonderful woman who loves and cares for her children....She will live with the mistake she made everyday for the rest of her life....A murderer is someone who plans to kill someone not a mother who made the biggest mistake of her life.....Let he or she who is without cast the first stone....If you have never hurt someone else even unintentionally then stand up......Kami loves her children and is a good mother who made a mistake.....please pray for her family and for my dear friend.....

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