Deseret News | Reader comments: Mom charged with negligent homicide in tot's heat-related death in Layton

Reader comments
Mom charged with negligent homicide in tot's heat-related death in Layton

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Anonymous | 1:04 p.m. July 3, 2008

Not to sound rude, but why wouldn't charges be filed? Someone died because of her negligance.

mother of 2 | 1:11 p.m. July 3, 2008

I am a mother of 2 and could not forget about my children. Their is not a moment that goes by that I am not thinking of them. How could she not think about he child for 2 hours. She was not a good mom! The suffering of the lost of her child is not punishment.She needs jail time for the murder of her child!

Middle Class | 1:19 p.m. July 3, 2008

This mom does not deserve to have charges filed against her. What possible purpose can they serve? If her address was in East side Draper, Holiday or Pepperwood, you can bet that no charges would have been filed.

Comments continue below

Concerned Citizen | 1:28 p.m. July 3, 2008

ANY parent who leaves their child in the car, accidentally or on purpose is a CRIMINAL.

Isn't it ironic that you need a licence to drive a car, permits to carry firearms, but any idiot can be a parent.

Grandpa | 1:34 p.m. July 3, 2008

To middle class, if ONE child is saved because of this lady being held responsible then her being brought up on charges is well worth the effort. Something has to be done to make our babies safe, sometimes from our own selfishness.

MY SLC | 1:40 p.m. July 3, 2008

No charges should be filed. Her life has been destroyed along with the family most likely.

Team Player | 1:44 p.m. July 3, 2008

The lives of average Americans have become way too hectic. Accidents happen to good people too. I don't know this person from Adam, but if it were me or my wife, the death of my child would leave me so scarred no amount of counseling or length of time would ease my pain. I choose to reserve my judgement of this woman's need for additional punishment for the courts, they'll know a lot more about it than the rest of us. If it was an accident, which I can only hope is the case, I don't think she deserves additional punishment beyond her son's death!

MY SLC? | 1:51 p.m. July 3, 2008

No charges??? Your right, lets not charge someone who commited a horrible crime. You know what, lets just not charge anyone for any crimes. People dont need to be responsible for their horrible actions.

RA | 1:54 p.m. July 3, 2008

There needs to be charges to crimes so others think twice.

Rice Cake | 1:59 p.m. July 3, 2008

You live, you learn... This lady needs to learn, and I do believe some form of punishment should take place along with the life-long guilt she will face for her carelessness of her own flesh and blood.
Life is hard, get a helmet. Thats why we have a justice system. The child needs justice. Hopefully people will wake up and realize its blazing hot outside and no one, not even pets or fruit should be left in the car.

E | 2:01 p.m. July 3, 2008

There have been TOO MANY child related deaths in the US due to parents leaving there children in cars and most of them no charges have been filled.

I do not belive this woman needs any more punishment by the state than she will give her self for her actions have caused.

But something has to be done to alert parents that it will kill their children to leave them in the car unattended in the heat- maybe if charges are filed the public will start to get the picture.

Unfortunate Accident | 2:03 p.m. July 3, 2008

This unfortunate event reminds me of event in Utah in 2000 and 2001. 2 year old Gage Wayment was left asleep in a vehicle by his father in the mountains while he was out hunting. Gage got out of the vehicle and froze to death in the mountains after getting lost. His father was tried and given a 1 month punishment by the judge, however just prior to serving his sentence, his father committed suicide in the mountains where they found his son. In this ladies case, I see this as even more accidental. I'm not opposed to the trial itself, but I do believe it will prove as an accident and no additional punishment will or should be given.

Anonymous | 2:06 p.m. July 3, 2008

I am huge animal lover, so I recognize the irony of animal abuse being a felony and this charge being a lesser charge.

But I think the difference is, animal abuse is usually committed by people who don't care, or who think that its okay to run over a kitten or toss it out of the car. They don't have a moral compass with regard to the treatment of animals.

But all except the most callous would argue that this was anything but a hugely unfortunate accident, that this woman does not believe that babies are lesser beings without the same feelings as adults, and therefore worthy of lesser attention.

So, yeah, it was awful, criminal and negligent. But we don't need the law to teach her a lesson. (as opposed to the jerks who deliberately harm animals or people)

All that said, I also don't understand how she could have possible left her child alone that long unless drugs or alcohol were involved....

Runnerboy3118 | 2:09 p.m. July 3, 2008

They are charging her... But no jail time? Are they joking? She has 2 other children, I don't want them to go without their mother, but if I (a man) would have done it I think I would have been under arrest at the hospital. A slap on the wrist is no even punishment. She killed a 5 month old baby.

sad | 2:14 p.m. July 3, 2008

This mother will have to live with her negligence for the rest of her life. I doubt it matters to her what she's charged with. It couldn't be any worse to her than what has already happened. I'm sure she prays for death every second she is alive.

Such vengeance! | 2:14 p.m. July 3, 2008

First, Mother of 2, it wasn't murder. Secondly, while I agree that justice must be done at some level, her price and that of her family over their lifetime will be more than enough. What if she "unintentionlly" backed out of her driveway and killed a child because she didn't see him? Would you string her up then? IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!

Don't you people have any mercy, empathy, understanding, or compassion at all? What makes you think that inflicting additional punishment on this woman, would accomplish a thing with the rest of society? There will always be absent-minded people out there doing dumb things, and you can bet that none of them will remember this event as a fore-warning for themselves. It will not be a deterant for others. How could it? We all do unintentionally stupid things - some things just result in greater "natural" consequences than others.

Lastly, I would be concerned about the rest of her family - especially the other children. Other than this tragic event, she's probably a pretty good mother. I'm happy that the prosecuting attorney is not seeking that she serve any jail time.

Brent | 2:14 p.m. July 3, 2008

It's said that those who think the charges are correct are so perfect. It's a very said occurrence but No charges should be filled. It's interesting that our legal system prosecutes the innocent while letting the guilty go free. This mother is innocent so our great legal system will prosecute. My neighbor was shot and killed by his ex-wife and she was freed because the district attorney didn't see a reason to prosecute. It's very sad to see what we've become. Prosecuting Mothers who experience an unfortunate mistake and letting murders go free. Layton needs to examine the legal minds they have and replace them with Competent Individuals.

Concerned | 2:27 p.m. July 3, 2008

First, I pity the mother and hope she can, with time, find some solace. What she is going through is probably much worse than I can imagine.

With that said, I do believe that she should be charged. Though I do not believe that the mother was simply self centered, if this can serve as just one extra reminder for parents to take care of their children in the heat, if it can save one more poor child from suffering such an agonizing and painful death, I am all for it.

What would Jesus Do? | 2:33 p.m. July 3, 2008

Mistakes happen, people die all the time because of mistakes. Why drag this grieving mother into court? I'm glad someone else brought up Gage Wayment. His father Paul committed suicide over a similar trial like this mother is going to now have to go through. Can't we help her in some other way, must we throw her in court/prison for this???

You're all Crazy! | 2:36 p.m. July 3, 2008

Anyone who thinks that the mom MUST be charged is crazy! Would a father be charged if he was speeding and got in an accident and his kids and wife died? NO! Get a grip...have some empathy. I bet you all never made a mistake!

MommaD | 2:40 p.m. July 3, 2008

Parents, when you park your vehicle and intend on getting out...please take your children out before anything else - even if they are asleep! Leave the groceries, even ice cream behind, until your children are in a safe, secure place. Multi-tasking is NOT a trait worth possessing as a parent; distraction is dangerous. Put your children's safety above their comfort - wake them up if you have to - just make them your first priority. Please.

Reminder? | 2:51 p.m. July 3, 2008

I keep reading she should be charged to give parents an extra reminder not to leave their children in the car. . . . isn't the fact that the baby DIED a good enough reminder to others not to leave their children in the car?

I pray for this mother and her family. They are going through and awful time right now and it will only get worse for them while this woman is on trial. I don't know if charging her was the right thing to do or not, I don't have all the facts and I probably never will.

Too Late | 3:05 p.m. July 3, 2008

Re: Reminder?
What if she is guilty? Do a few tears make you a beleiver? Do you beleive movies when you watch them? I forgot my Child for two hours and it DIED! Two hours? Yeah thats normal for a good parent, she should be punished!

Hellooooooooo | 3:08 p.m. July 3, 2008

I am the mother of two teenagers. I NEVER "forgot" my children in the car. This wasn't an accident. It was negligence, plain and simple, and that child died a terrible death. She deserves to be charged, but no punishment she receives will ever match what she will have to live with. Having also lost a child, I know what that feels like. I cannot imagine living with the knowledge I had caused my child's death through my own negligence. It's all very sad.

Dan | 3:14 p.m. July 3, 2008

Negligence is defined according to a "reasonable person" standard. If a reasonable person would behave a certain way, then the negligent person is one who neglected to do what a reasonable person would have done.

Because of so many of these unfortunate incidents, it is truly impossible for any reasonable person NOT to know that leaving your child in a hot car is dangerous.

Charges not only should be filed, but MUST be filed, and this fact needs to be publicized as far and wide as possible so that any other stupid people (who haven't the reason to qualify to be parents) don't do the same thing.

I think licensing of parents is a good idea. People who are so stupid should not have the right to create children!

Too hectic? | 3:26 p.m. July 3, 2008

Anybody who thinks their life is so hectic that they can't even remember enough to care for their own child has their priorities too far out of whack.

No Question | 3:27 p.m. July 3, 2008

5-month-old Clearfield boy who died after being left in a sweltering hot car.

Sounds like a mother needs to be locked up, plain and simple!

love my baby-watch my baby | 3:29 p.m. July 3, 2008

People who say this was just a mistake are mistaken. It was neglect. I think that if parents hear that they are going to be held responsible for neglect then they will try harder to "remember" where their children are and what they are doing. Feel sorry for the mom but remember someone died... no prom, no wedding, no child of their own. Lost - gone - forever.... NEGLECT!

Anonymous | 3:51 p.m. July 3, 2008

I'm sorry - I feel terrible for the mother and the guilt she must be living with. However, I also think this was an incredibly negligent thing to do!! How can you forget your own child in the car like that?! I don't care who you are or where you're going, it's your CHILD, and that should be the first thing you think of. I don't think it's wrong for the justice sytem to charge this woman because it WAS a negligent thing to do. I hope and pray she can someday forgive herself.

Sad | 3:51 p.m. July 3, 2008

Sad no matter how you look at it.

People are in more of a hurry to get their groceries in the house than their children.

Why are people so overloaded? People come first.

This should be a lesson for all of us for one not to judge and two to think before we leap out of the car and get the precious cargo in first.

She will suffer enough. Let the courts handle it. No one needs rocks thrown at them regardless of how tragic this is to see, and especially for this young mother regardless of her negligence.

Forgiveness and healing as you know...she will never get over this...

Let us all remember too...to think twice.

shiggz | 3:53 p.m. July 3, 2008

Seeing just the headline the last few days i was conflicted. We all get absentminded id hate to think of my wife in jail because of somesuch thing.

I'm not sure this is all an "innocent mistake"
Maybe if she had multiple kids and was bringing in the groceries or something. But she went into her friends house "for a few hours". Either she forgot she had brought the kid with her (negligent not criminal). Or she knew she left the kid in car and figured he would be fine. (cruel and probably criminal). Maybe she thought the windows were rolled down or the air conditioner was running but in 4$ gas thats very unlikely. And in near 90F heat the windows down is clearly a bad idea. That said either the air or windows is criminal for the span of a few hours.

Example | 3:52 p.m. July 3, 2008

Any legal issues, charges filed against her, etc. are all secondary to the pain which she feels inside. She is probably numb to these charges. After losing her child, some lawyers coming after her probably doesn't matter too much to her. So why not let the legal system work by making an example out of her? Other people will see this happening and be more careful to not neglect their own children.

Rose | 3:55 p.m. July 3, 2008

This is a sad story, but how can any mother forget her sweet little baby for such a very long time, at such a young age? This is too hard for me to believe. I don't comprehend this mothers thinking whatsoever!

Robert Oh | 3:56 p.m. July 3, 2008

If there is evidence of negligence she should be charged. If she is tried and found guilty the courts should make the judgment what punishment should happen.

We have a courts system, let it work.

Julie | 3:57 p.m. July 3, 2008

Consider this. Many, many of us come from very large families. Back in the day you rarely if ever heard about a child being left in a car to die, even when Mom & Dad had to account for 6 or 7 small children. We all made it to adulthood. No, there is definitely something wrong with 'FORGETTING' your child in a backseat. I feel that these 'forgetful' parents need to be punished. Maybe some jail time for this practice will help more parents 'remember'.

Mandysue | 3:57 p.m. July 3, 2008

I feel awfull for what this lady is going through but I'm a first time mother of a 10 month old and I don't care if I'm in a store or paying for gas for 10 seconds If I'm leaving the car, my little girl is coming with me. Not only that but, I could never forget about my baby. She's my world.

Anonymous | 4:04 p.m. July 3, 2008

I have a question for all of you. What about the person that the mother was visiting? Didn't she ask where the child was? Didn't she wonder why the mother didn't have her child with her? I'm just wondering how the person she was visiting could be so "flighty" as well. What were these ladies doing, what were they talking about that was so all consuming that they could forget about a child?

Mandysue | 4:06 p.m. July 3, 2008

I feel a lot of why we hear about more deaths like this these days has to do with being selfish and worried about others more than our family and children. Back in the day from what my mom would tell me, everything revolved around a mothers child. These days things are much much different

A Blessing | 4:15 p.m. July 3, 2008

May God bless this woman and her family. May we find compassion for her and thank God it isn't us carrying her cross. May her family be given strength in the days (and years) to come. May her other children not lose their innocence - and find sanctuary among us. May their mother learn to lift her head again, and remember all the good she has done in her life, and not have this one horrible error completely eclipse everything else.

And may her tears save us from tears.

I don't know this woman, but I know that in condemning her, we condemn ourselves. Every one of us can look back and see the sad consequences of choices we've made. Thank God most of us haven't had to lose a child to atone for them.

It's easy to point at a woman we don't know and demands she pays. I don't know what her legal consequences should be, but I do know this...

More justice can be served with love than hate - in whatever forum she's tried in. Even this one.

Sad Story | 4:16 p.m. July 3, 2008

I dont think she should get jail time... but maybe community service by teaching younge adults classes on child vehicle safety or something.... Just a thought

INNOCENT? | 4:19 p.m. July 3, 2008

I have not read one of these comments that thinks the mother may be GUILTY and did this on purpose. Do any of you think that a parent who loves there child could forget about them in a hot car for a few hours? If you are a parent ask yourself this question right now, could you leave a 5 month old child of yours in a vehicle with 120 degrees inside the vehicle? If you answered yes than you should turn your children over to the State. This is yes a sad story for the child....but the Mother is guilty!

shiggz | 4:22 p.m. July 3, 2008

I wonder if this lady could tell you the names and birthdays of different celebrities babies.

RE: mandysue | 4:21 p.m. July 3, 2008

Since things are so different now then I guess its okay to leave a child in a vehicle with temp. 120 degrees? I think you may have been left in a vehicle too long...

Anonymous | 4:23 p.m. July 3, 2008

GOOD!!!!Consequences for your actions!! Was she inside her friends house setting up a brag about my perfect life blog while her baby roasted?

Re: sad story | 4:23 p.m. July 3, 2008

She needs jail time to think about the death of her child that was murdered. She is not innocent!

John from Clearfield | 4:27 p.m. July 3, 2008

I agree with you "INNOCENT?'
You are right!

Anonymous | 4:27 p.m. July 3, 2008

You people who think no charges should be filed, A child is DEAD, DEAD, DEAD BECAUSE OF HER!!! Her friend was more important to her than her child!! He baked in the car. His brain roasted. Can you imagine what he went through? Whether she meant to or not it is NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE!!!!!!

Rick | 4:29 p.m. July 3, 2008

Negligent death, that is a crime. Jail time should be mandatory. What is the point of prosecuting with the forgoen agreement of probation as the punishment? She needs jail or prison time then all her time can be spent asking herself how she could be so self centered to "forget" her baby. Imagine th death that would have been being slowly cooked alive in a car. LOCK HER UP!!!

Mandysue | 4:31 p.m. July 3, 2008

Ok that was not what I was saying. I was just saying times have changed and it seems to me that people are so caught up with different things than they were when we were children, more things seem to be happening. I wasn't defending what happened not one bit. There was no need for your rude reply.

Anonymous | 4:31 p.m. July 3, 2008

How do you people know it was an accident? None of us never will know the truth will we? So quit spouting off that negligent homicide is an accident please!!!

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