Ga. teen ordered to build memorial in toddler's death

(CBS/AP) JONESBORO, Ga. - A teenager who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for leaving a toddler in a hot van outside a Georgia day care center, has received an unusual punishment.

Build a memorial to the child.

The 16-year-old, who pleaded guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct, must create some kind of memorial to 2-year-old Jazmin Green.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Jazmin's mother, April McAlister, says it made her feel good for the judge to order someone to make a memorial for her baby.

The guilty teen worked at Marlo's Magnificent Early Learning Center near Jonesboro, and is not being named because she is a juvenile.

The judge ordered the teen to build a memorial in honor of the child, in addition to probation time and community service, CBS affiliate WGCL reported.

The toddler's father said he was surprised and overjoyed.

"Nothing will be enough from a father and mother standpoint, the probation that was OK, but the biggest thing that stood out to me was the memorial for my daughter," Charles Green said, according to WGCL.

Green said a memorial would allow his daughter's memory to live on.

"A lot of shortcuts were taken and I don't want my daughter to be just swept under the rug," Green said.

Green said the teen was supposed to check the van to make sure no children were left inside, the station reported.

The day care center's owner and her daughter have also been charged. Their attorney denies they falsified documents and tried to cover up what happened.