CHARLOTTE, NC – In what police have described as a tragic incident, a North Carolina mother was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. Ashlee Stallings allegedly left her 8-year-old daughter inside a car in hot weather conditions while she was at work. The child suffered a fatal medical emergency and was pronounced dead early Thursday.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department stated that officers responded to reports of a critically ill child in a vehicle late Wednesday afternoon. According to Stallings, she had left her daughter in the car with the air conditioning on, but the child turned off the car because she was cold. Upon returning an hour and a half later, Stallings found her daughter unresponsive and foaming at the mouth.
Despite efforts to drive to a local hospital, Stallings had to stop midway for help. Medical staff later confirmed that the child had suffered a brain herniation due to hyperthermia.
Acknowledging the severity of the situation, Stallings admitted that she knew she should not have left her child alone in the car, given the external temperature of 94 degrees. She was arrested on Thursday and charged with involuntary manslaughter and serious injury-causing child abuse.
Stallings, who works at an Amazon facility, is being held at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center on a bond of $250,000. Her next court hearing is set for July 16. As the investigation continues, Amazon is cooperating with the police and has assured their employees of counseling resources.
This incident is reportedly the fifth hot car death this year, indicating the need for better awareness and precautionary measures.