Heat Wave Kills Baby In Car Mix-Up

Father Didn't Know Mother Had Put Infant In Car Seat, Left Child In Parked Car

(CBS/AP)  A 7-month-old infant was found dead in the heat of a parked car Thursday near the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, authorities said. Hours later, a 2-year-old toddler was found dead in a vehicle in a suburb of Cincinnati.

The infant's name has not been released. Her father is a research analyst at the nearby medical school. Her mother is a staff pediatrician at St. Louis Children's Hospital.

On a day when the temperature reached the upper 90s, a woman spotted the baby girl, called 911 and broke the car window, police Capt. James Gieseke said. The child was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The child had been in the car for three hours, Gieseke said. It's believed the mother left the child in the back seat of the father's car, but that the father thought the mother had taken the child and didn't realize it was his turn to drop her off at daycare.

"There was a horrible, devastating mix-up as to who was going to take the child to day care," Gieseke said. "It's one of the car seats that have to be in the back seat and faces to the rear."

Details were still sketchy because the couple were too distraught to give complete statements, Gieseke said.

The extreme heat meant a short school day in St. Louis again Friday. About one-third of St. Louis school buildings lack air conditioning.

Cincinnati public schools were closed for a second day Friday because of the heat. The days off will count as snow days. Other districts throughout southwestern and central Ohio plan were also giving students the day off or planning to dismiss them early because of the heat.

The ongoing drought and weeks of extreme heat have drawn down water supplies and cities across Indiana and officials are asking their residents to conserve. Some cities are issuing pleas to limit watering the grass, washing cars and filling swimming pools, while others have restricted the times when residents can use water outdoors.

Thousands of farmers across the Southeast are struggling to deal with drought conditions not seen in some places for 50 years, reports CBS News correspondent Hari Sreenivasan. Georgia has had $787 million in losses, Tennessee, $500 million, and Alabama, $251 million.

"We're at God's mercy," said one farmer. "I guess when God wants to have rain, he'll send us rain."

Jan Null, adjunct professor of meteorology at San Francisco State University, said the baby's death in St. Louis was the 22nd in the U.S. this year involving a child left in a hot vehicle.

A 2-year-old girl was found dead Thursday in her mother's sweltering sport utility vehicle in Union Township, about 20 miles southeast of Cincinnati, police said.

The girl, Cecilia Slaby, was strapped in a car seat in the rear of the vehicle, which was in the parking lot of Glen Este Middle School, where the girl's mother, Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby, is an assistant principal, said Clermont County Prosecutor Don White. No charges had been filed.

An autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death. Temperatures in the area reached 100 degrees Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Police said they received several 911 calls about 3:15 p.m. from people who spotted the girl in the vehicle.

Aretha Franklin has canceled her Sept. 1 concert in Atlanta because of the heat. The Franklin show was to kick off the annual Montreux Jazz Festival on Labor Day weekend.

Meanwhile, 40 firefighters from Pennsylvania and Mississippi were on their way to Alabama to help battle a wildfire that had burned more than 400 acres of wilderness Thursday as temperatures soared into triple digits yet again in a month of record heat.

The blaze was still growing in the Talladega National Forest between Lineville and Talladega, but officials hoped to contain it before it could spread further through east Alabama.

[visitude98]

wow, I have heard of these incidents, but it doesn't make it right. I'm finding it hard to believe that the father did not know the child was in the car. However, it is not up to me to judge, maybe the child was fast asleep and didn't make a sound.

I do feel compassion for the parents, but there is something you should never do and that is leave a child or an animal in the car. It just shouldn't be done. It's not just for the heat, but also for the fact that the car could be stolen with the child or animal inside. A little common sense goes a long way sometimes.

[michellem99-2009]

I do feel parents are like small children and that they won''t step upto the plate do the common sense thing for their children. They want to be the centre of attn. Sterilise them..No babies...cold no way..Some have babies for the wrong reasons. I am a home user. I am on computer daily...I know of a person who must use every computer he seee. Not mine as it set up for my legal blindness. It is help for me. I am not buying child''s they did not know she was in the car and they had a duty that child to not place her in there alone. LAZINESS. Hang up the bloody cell and talk.. you know talk to each other face to face...Sorry I stand correted the phone is,the old type witter,plus others..

[ecuadoriana]

"The computer is a tool. The laptop computer is a tool..." Posted by MichelleM99 at 06:07 PM : Aug 25, 2007

And cell phones, just like home phones, are tools, as well. But just like I don''t go around drilling holes into walls with my power drill, I don''t want people to go around drilling holes into my skull with all their yakking on the cell phones!!!

People don''t use their lap tops & cells as the tools they were meant to be, they use them as security blankets & pacifiers because they can''t cope with the process of growing up & becoming members of society. People who yak out loud in public on their cell phones are like the screaming toddlers who want to draw attention to themselves in restaurants & such so their mommies will pacify them up with a treat. "Look at ME!! Look at ME!!" they scream until they get their way, then they scream some more.

[michellem99-2009]

erasmus6,thank you on the bloody cell..like you I have never owned one and don''t wish one. The computer is a tool. The laptop computer is a tool,and more useful that a bloody cell. I have a home computer.I don''t mind computer users in public. But the cell...yak..yak...everywhere...I can''t see too use one.. My friend was on the city bus was pissed. He told me there was a lady at the back of the bus yakking at the top of her lungs...He yelled *SHUT THE FU*CK UP* the first time, she still yaked. He yelled again *SHUT THE FU*CK UP*. The whole bus went quiet.
He don''t do that as a rule. They drive yer crazy afther a while. I hate them. To me they are unsafe..I am legally blind..I told this one lady I was pissed as I need to hear and can''t with yer talking in my ears. I can handle computer.
We can''t go any where the bloody cell. I know where I would shove it....their asre ...can''t..
toldyouso21,you are a good mother. They may have to fix them so they can''t breed if they are unfit to properly raise them. There are good parents...the lazy ones who put their in foster care cause they don''t want to raise them..them are the ones...

[erasmus6]

"...when no one can seem to shut off their D@MN cell phones..." posted by ecuadorianna

Besides GUNS, cell phones is another subject you do not want to get me going on.

I do not own a cell phone. I refused to get one.
Nothing pisses me off more than these stupid twits that walk around with their cell phones glued to their ear. When I am in a restaurant, I do not want to hear some jerk carrying on a conversation with someone. Doesn''t matter where you are, grocery shopping, doctors office, it''s pitiful. And most actually raise their voices like they want to make sure everyone can hear. I would like to grab their cell phone and shove it.......

Sorry for the rant.:)

[erasmus6]

Years ago, there were probably some parents that could raise 5 kids and have them turn out well adjusted but now adays it seems like most parents are very selfish. It''s all ME, ME, ME. They can''t seem to look after one, never mind 5.

[ecuadoriana]

How is communication even possible any more when no one can seem to shut off their D@MN cell phones, ipods, lap tops, what-nots, gizmos, gadgets, & vibrating toys? Never has there been a generation of adults so fixated on recreating their childhood that they''ll choose their toys over their adult & parental responsibilities. When I see people mindlessly wandering into traffic while seemingly talking into the air I can''t even tell the crazy schizos from the supposedly normal people any more. Seems like today everyone is walking around talking to themselves about "buying low-selling high, how much milk do we have in the fridge, guess where I am...?" that they don''t actually communicate (that means "talk with" for those of you who can only read & spell in TEXT SPEAK) about what is supposed to be really important.

Why do people even bother meeting, falling in love, getting married & having kids if they''re so wrapped up in themselves & their little gizmos that they''ll kill their own kids by "forgetting" about them?! Meanwhile BushWhacked & the Christain Do Gooders are freaked out about Homos**uality being the cause of the collapse & ruin of the American Family.

No. It''s spoiled immature self centered adults who still play with their toys, when not "playing with themselves" that is the cause of the collapse of civilisation as we''ll probably never know it again.

[erasmus6]

And then there are the times when people make up a story to hide the REAL TRUTH.

[ecuadoriana]

"Parents don''t seem to be learning from others experiences ... you would think the death of a child would do it wouldn''t you?" Posted by erasmus6 at 06:27 PM : Aug 24, 2007

Isn''t there some quote about the proof of insanity is doing the same thing over & over again & expected a different result? I say it all the time: For being the most intelligent creature on the planet, we''re really all d@mn stupid.

"Did you note the childish blame game going on---''bbbbut it was HIS turn.'' This... mentality is going to accelerate the decline of this country faster than anything else....Had she been less focused on ''turns'' and just got the job done, she would not have assumed he would take his turn and would have placed the onus on herself. After all, in the end, her child''''s life was at stake..."
Posted by toldyouso21 at 01:00 AM : Aug 25, 2007

Toldyouso21, that''s the biggest problem going on today- no one wants to accept any personal responsibility at all ever. Everyone looks for someone else to blame; They look for every excuse they can find to wiggle out of any responsibility or initiative. If there is no monetary incentive they figure why bother, let someone else do it.

I''m now waiting to read that each parent will sue the other for wrongful death & emotional duress.

Someone had mentioned a tether to attach from your belt loop to the car seat. Maybe people should consider a tether that attaches their brain stem to their skull.

[michellem99-2009]

toldyouso21,dear ,they should fix parents who mess up. They don''t..Here is why they sue the bloody states or drs and win..Years ago they did..they sued as it violated them..BS..Some people ought not have child..In the US I wanted my tubes burnt so no children...No dr would do it..I have health issues..Years ago I was pissed the dr was more worried of being sued than my health. It was done..I signed the paper. I was 28.That is the problem if a woman wants to be fixed so no babies,dr won''t do it..I never had children.Dr said it easier to fix the male..They just don''t wamt to fix a woman.Dr need to get off their asre fix them..Every day children are killt.
earsmus6, Dear ,I stand by 2. Some none. The woman''s body can''t handle baby after baby. It is bloody selfish and unfair to the children. For years I was pissed at mother for her selfishness.. She did not want to raise me and my sister. We were sep and went to different foster homes.We don''t know each other. I am 2 years older than my sister whom I have never seen her face. In the US they should limit children to 2 for many reasons. That is not cold but thinking of others.

[toldyouso21]

Posted by erasmus6 at 07:33 PM : Aug 24, 2007

I have 5 kids and stay at home with them. I retired as a Scientist when I was still pretty young (in my 30s) and made the decision to stay at home. My kids have traveled all over the world, have excellent manners have GPAs over 3.2 (all of them) don''t so drugs, never run in stores, know how to help others, etc. I had no trouble providing for them and introduced them to many things in life, including other cultures, lots of vacations, etc. It is all about the planning and ingenuity. They range in ages from 26 to 9 with all but 1 over the age of 17. As for my husbands career, I helped to shape it and direct him since I knew we would depend on his income only. It has been a blast and I can''t even begin to imagine life without all of my kids. They are more articulate and spontaneous than kids in smaller families, in addition, they are more independent as they are both mentor and protegee to those who came before them. I love large families. I came from a family of 7 and do not regret it at all. If people can afford it---to each his own. It is crazy to limit to 2 as if you would kill any ''extras''. there is a book called "Ender''s WAr" it is the story about a society where people were told to only have 2 children and when a 3rd came on the scene--sad yet enlightening in how he was treated and ultimately--how he reacted. I was a THIRD!!!! VIVA LA THIRDS!!!!!

[toldyouso21]

communication.. that''''s all it would have taken was Hon - it''''s your day to take the kid in.
Or - I got have all the baby''''s stuff ready for you - it''''s on the counter/desk/table etc.... THEN he would have put the child in the car himself with all the belongings. But she assumed and he assumed - communication... that''''s all it takes - and it doesn''''t matter if you have to repeat or question the other party several times... keep the communication lines open...
Posted by sugarmice at 04:46 PM : Aug 24, 2007


YOu are right. I know this sounds terrible but this marriage may not last. There will be too many recriminations and blame. Her for assuming he remembered and not reminding him and she will blame him for not ever remembering his "chores" and dropping the ball. Often grief over a child (especially when caused by one''s own mistakes) shatters a marriage.

[toldyouso21]

Society crumbles when compassion disappears...figure it out
Posted by Zendigity at 04:40 PM : Aug 24, 2007


It crumbles even faster when common sense is thrown out of the window and ignorance is condoned and excused, tolerated and therefore perpetuated....you figure THAT out.

[toldyouso21]

also wondering here - why the day care didn''''t call the parent(s) to ask where the child was?
Our children are beyond the day care ages but I do remember that if a child didn''''t show up they would call - perhaps this day and age they don''''t question an absentee. Posted by sugarmice at 04:38 PM : Aug 24, 2007

No I don''t think they would ask and don''t think they should. It is human nature, in tragedies like this to pass the buck and share the blame. But stop it. It is not a school''s job to monitor or micromanage family logistics and it is not a schools job to baby sit or manage kids or raise them for lazy parents. The schools (including day cares, have enough on their plates, trying to conform to all the agencies that check on them, decrease their liability and keep employees there for the low pay. They don''t need to be responsible for checking up on people who do or do not bring the kids. They are responsible for your kids (and what happens to them) from the moment they get there until a parent picks them up--after that, every parent is on their own. This is the MOM"S and Dad''s fault. Not society, not seat belt rules, not rear facing seats--this was forgetfulness and a tragic toll that being preoccupied can take. Bet they don''t do it again.

[toldyouso21]

Are these parents even TALKING TO EACH OTHER?! How do you put a child in the car of someone else and not even say anything to them.
Posted by Leslie7088 at 03:44 PM : Aug 24, 2007


did you note the childish blame game going on---"bbbbut it was HIS turn." This "he said, she said, mom he''s looking at me, But Clinton did it too....I know I am but what are you...." mentality is going to accelerate the decline of this country faster than anything else.

Had she been less focused on "turns" and just got the job done, she would not have assumed he would take his turn and would have placed the onus on herself. After all, in the end, her child''s life was at stake. Too bad we can''t advocate the sterilization of self centered and nonthingking people.

[toldyouso21]

Something needs to be done about this. Those parents never intended any harm to their child. This all comes about because children have to be in the back seat. Prosecuting parents for this is stupid. Fix the real problem. Design a fool proof notifier that a child is in the back seat.
Posted by perimogi at 03:09 PM : Aug 24, 2007


Puhleese, people deliberately leave their kids in cars and run into stores and gas stations, people place their purses and sometimes the baby on the roof of the car and drive away (there was a video on the news about that...so what should we do then? Do away with rooftops for our car? Absolutely nothing can make an unaware or preoccupied person, think or remember on command. NOTHING. Even if the woman was a stay at home mom, she still could have forgotten the child in the back (thinking the hubby took it to day care) and left it in the car while she did the shopping for the house. Same old story. The fact is, like many have said, people are just too preoccupied and sometimes tragedy happens.

[toldyouso21]

I''''m sorry for the families, but honestly, it takes a special kind of stupid to do this. This appalling lack of communication between the parents is NOT a good sign, and those kids paid the price.
Posted by WiccanTexan at 02:32 PM : Aug 24, 2007


I think this couple should hook up with the British couple that went out to dinner and left all 3 of their toddlers unattended. Only to return to one having been kidnapped and she still has never been found. Both should get Darwin awards --then both sets should be spayed and neutered just to be on the safe side.

[toldyouso21]

They were there in 5 minutes and the kids were out in like 2 minutes after that. They were sweaty but ultimately were fine. Still as a dad, you feel like *** over just making that small a mental blunder when you are right there. I would be devastated if I had left my girls in the car and they''''d been hurt or died. I feel sorry for this family.
Posted by trouble1985 at 12:49 PM : Aug 24, 2007


Hmmmm. Whereas many of us would never wait for 9/11, we would have shattered our own car window and immediately retrieved the kids. Just what was your plan/time limit if it took a bit longer?

[toldyouso21]

for the person who posted above, do you really think these parents intentionally leave their kids in cars to die in the heat. Posted by curious101 at 10:36 AM : Aug 24, 2007


l... a few months back there was that case where the dad was mad at the mom, drove away in the car, saw that the 3 month old was in the back, grabbed the kid and chucked him out of the window. ON PURPOSE. And then there was that mom just last week that put her infant in the microwave and cooked her kid.... So in this day and age--YEAH, we do believe people could do something like that on purpose. We also believe that those who protest or excuse the loudest are the most likely candidates to commit such horrors. Have a nice night.

[toldyouso21]

No matter whose turn it was to take the baby to daycare. How in the hell does anyone leave a baby in a car and the other person not know about it? Did she just put the seat in the car and walk away? This was a terrible tragedy, but if these were not professional people, I bet there''d be charges and whispers of negligence swirling around.