A mom in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse because of the death of her 8-year-old daughter. Ashlee Stallings' daughter "suffered a medical emergency" due to being left in a hot car, according to a news release from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The statement did not say how long the young girl had been left in the car, but noted that she was left there during "hot weather conditions."
On that particular day, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, temperatures reached the upper 90s, reported ABC News.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit obtained by ABC, Stallings, 36, allegedly left her daughter in her car while she was working.
Stallings reportedly told the police that she left the air conditioning on in her car to help her daughter keep cool.
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Stallings went to check on her daughter in her car about an hour and a half after she last received a text from her, reported ABC 11.
When she went to check on her daughter, she found her unresponsive and "foaming at the mouth," as per ABC 11. The mom reportedly tried to drive to a hospital for help.
The affidavit noted that the mom "admitted she knew the temperature was 94 degrees outside and that she should not have left the victim inside the car alone," as per ABC 11, but she also claimed that she thought her daughter "turned the car off because she was cold."
According to police, the mom pulled over and called for help while on the way to the hospital. First responders found the girl in critical condition and she was taken to the hospital, where she later died.
The girl reportedly died because of brain herniation due to hyperthermia, reported ABC News. Stallings was working at an Amazon facility when the incident occurred.
Stallings' daughter was left in the car at an Amazon Fulfillment Center, according to WBTV. A representative for Amazon shared the following statement: "This is an incredibly tragic incident. During this difficult time, we’re supporting our employees and have made counseling resources widely available. We’re also working closely with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department as they investigate," as per WSOC-Tv.
The incident is still being investigated, according to police.
