Negligence leads to death
By Jess
@JJ4Ever (4693)
United States
July 22, 2008 10:45am CST
I heard in the news a week ago that here in Michigan not too far from where I live, a husband and wife got home one afternoon and accidentally left their little newborn baby in the car. (I don’t know how a couple could do such a thing without realizing they didn’t hear their baby cry or at least wonder where he or she was, but that’s what happened.) The baby was in the car for at least two hours in over 90-degree (Fahrenheit) weather that afternoon. Sadly, the baby died because of the parents’ negligence. I know this particular incident has happened before, but what can authorities do about cases like this? Have you heard of something like this happening before? How was it handled? I know it was a complete accident and honest mistake on the parents’ part, but they’re still responsible for the death of their newborn son or daughter. Should they be punished beyond the grief they’ve already experienced due to the loss of their child? Do you think they’ll be punished by state authorities for negligence? Should they be allowed to have more children?
9 people like this
15 responses
@jammyt (2818)
• Philippines
23 Jul 08
Oh my! You are right, how can they forget that they have a baby with them??? And for two hours??? 
I do not even consider this an accident or an honest mistake. Pure negligence. I think what happened is punishable by law in the US. How sad. I think it will be on the grounds of pure negligence and homicide or something like that. I hope they realize what they have done.
I do not even consider this an accident or an honest mistake. Pure negligence. I think what happened is punishable by law in the US. How sad. I think it will be on the grounds of pure negligence and homicide or something like that. I hope they realize what they have done.@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
27 Jul 08
That's most important...them realizing what they did and be sorry for it if, in fact, it wasn't intentional, which I'd certainly hope not. They have to live with the consequences the rest of their lives, so hopefully that's punishment enough aside from what the state will do.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
22 Jul 08
Accidentally left their newborn in a car for at least two hours. No, you accidentally leave your phone in a car, or even the keys, a bag of shopping or a paper. Actually scrap that I have never accidentally left anything in a car for that amount of time.
Maybe I am harsh or too judgemental or something but I have never accidentally left any of my babies anywhere for any amount of time. That story just does not sit with me, sorry but it does not. Even when mine have fallen asleep in the car, we have never left them there for any reason they have been woken up, and I am just baffled I just cannot get my head around forgetting a newborn baby that you have not long had.
2 people like this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
27 Jul 08
You don't have to apologize. I'm in disbelief that this happened as well. Maybe that's just it...they hadn't had a baby for very long. Perhaps they were parents for the first time and didn't remember they had a baby in the car when they rushed inside for one thing or another. I wasn't there, so I don't know what exactly happened. I have this picture in my mind of what I think happened and how it happened, but it's still never going to make sense to me. This whole thing is never going to make sense to any of us because normal people just don't "forget" their child, especially newborn baby, in the car. I don't get it either. I know it doesn't happen too terribly often, but when it does it's a huge deal. I'd like to get in their heads for just a few minutes after everything took place to understand the how's and why's as to this situation. Thanks for your feedback. It's much appreciated!
@CopyPaper (228)
• Philippines
23 Jul 08
Oh my god! Why on earth that they left that baby in the car with 90-degrees fahrenheit atmosphere? If I will be the one of the jury, I will give them a guilty plead. Why? It's just that, I am not convinced that they forgot all about the baby. Is that means, the mother forgot her 9-month suffering from pregnancy?
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
28 Jul 08
Good answer. Wow...yeah, you really have to go back and think of what a mother has to suffer in general just to have the child in the first place. Now she won't even have to chance to see her little baby grow up. What a shame. It's not to say it wasn't her fault, but I just hurt for the family. I don't understand how a little baby can be forgotten either, especially as much noise as they can make when they're young...they have so many needs that must be tended to. I hope they understand what they've done and never do it again. A lot can be learned from this situation. Thanks, CP!
@mummybec (685)
• Australia
28 Jul 08
I honestly do not know how people can leave thier kids in the car (and not realise at all????) I have 2 children and just cannot leave them in the car at all.... I always find it distubing and upsetting to hear when people have done this - or things similar to this! We have had a few of these things happen here (in australia) too... babies and small children left in cars on hot days! It really is very sad.
@blackmantra_x (2732)
• Philippines
23 Jul 08
Good day...I can't imagine forgetting my child anywhere specially in the car. My child will always be the first and the last thing in my mind. I'll double even triple check him/her just to make sure she's ok. So I really can't imagine.
1 person likes this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
28 Jul 08
Most parents would be like you said...checking on their child, especially a newborn, every few minutes. All I have is a dog right now, and I most certainly still check on him to make sure he's ok when I don't hear him! I think it's a good habit to always check on them and know where your kids are. It would've saved this couple a lot of heartache later on. Thanks for your response.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Two hours..a new born and no one in the house decided to check on the baby and see if sleeping or wet, assuming the other parent brought the baby in the house. Not too likely.
Were they pharmaceutically enhanced at the time?
1 person likes this
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
22 Jul 08
i think possibly they should be charged. i sometimes wonder how something like that could happen. i could see maybe forgeting for a few minutes, but 2 hours? how do you not realize your baby is missing for 2 hours? a newborn needs so much care surely they would have been used to attending to it often. you'd think they would have went to feed the baby or something and realized it was missing. plus, how do you KNOW it was an accident? any talented actor could whip up some tears and make you think they were mourning. maybe they just didn't want to deal with the stress anymore. i would worry that people will start "accidentally" leaving their kids in the car if no one is getting punished for it.
1 person likes this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
27 Jul 08
I don't know for sure this was an accident. It's impossible to be sure exactly what happened since I wasn't there. All I know is what I heard on the radio and from others who heard about it. Of course, that's how rumors start so all I know is what I heard. It's hard for us to judge what the parents were thinking. I know I have the same thoughts as you...how in the world could they accidentally do something like this? I mean, this is the life of a newborn baby we're talking about. You don't just forget about your child sitting in the car. Yes, perhaps two minutes, but even that short period of time could be harmful to a baby's health when he or she is alone in a hot car for that long. You're definitely right that they could be acting like they're sad if this wasn't actually an accident. My thoughts are that if these parents really didn't want a child in the first place, instead of allowing the baby to die (if they actually did do this on purpose), they could've put it up for adoption. Thanks for your response.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Hi JJ,
This is very terrible! I have not heard anything like this yet..But, I will not tolerate their negligence over this..How can someone forget their baby? That is very very ridiculous, especially the Mother..and for 2 long hours? Wow! I wonder if they are normal, I mean I'm sorry to use the word but 2 hours, that is very unbelievable!
ANyway, I have not heard their part but I know a lot will think the same as I do! thanks for sharing!
They deserve to received a sanction in my point of view! Not unless if they are not in their proper thinking!
1 person likes this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
24 Jul 08
I've wondered the same...if they were in their right mind either. It's like they were on a drive to get something done as soon as they got home that they both had one-track minds and not thinking of anything else. They risked (and took) the life of their poor baby for their stupidity. It's so sad that people let this happen. The life of a child is priceless. I'm sure in the future they'll wonder what their baby would be like if he or she had lived that day. These thoughts and consequences will follow them for the rest of their lives!
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I've heard similar stories about babies being left in cars, even pets. I feel for the parents because it's something they will have to live with for the rest of their lives.
My son is my number one priority and I find it hard to understand why parents would forget about their children.
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
27 Jul 08
The natural consequences of this situation are far worse than anything the state and officials can do to these parents because they've lost their child of their own negligence. You're right...they'll live with this forever...they'll wonder what their child would've looked like and acted like several years later when he or she would be such and such years old, etc. Their minds would try to ask the "what if's" as in if their child had lived, what would he or she be like. I hope they're blessed with more kids, but I'm confident they'll never make this same mistake again. They learned their lesson right away. The consequences were huge. Thanks for your insightful response!
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I have never beleived the I forgot my baby was in the car story. Just where in the world did they think they newborn was? And they didn't even notice the infant missing for two hours since that is how long the baby was in the car Newborns don't sleep for two hours straight didn't they wonder why they couldn't hear the baby crying?
I have read about this happening over and over again and unfortuanelty nothing ever happens to the parents I think they should at least get child neglect. I have two children and I have NEVER forgot they were in the car NEVER.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
22 Jul 08
jj4ever any parent who leaves a child in a closed car should
be indicted for murder. any mother who forgets where her baby is
must be an unfit mother, yes she should b e indicted at least
for manslaughter they have evidently made it a practice of leaving their baby in the car before. In all of my marriage I have never ever not known where my kids were as babies, and never have I left an infant or a dog in a closed car in hot weather, or cold weather either. no they must be punished so they will not do that again if they have other children. I think they should be allowed to have more children but be under the watchful eyes of childrens protective services for a year or two at least.
1 person likes this
@magojordan (3252)
• Philippines
23 Jul 08
Well parents shouldn't really do that because babies are really very fragile. I think that parents should know that they should be careful not to leave their babies alone. Well here it happens too, sad to say but it's true. Usually a child would drown because they are not being watched by their parents when they take a bath. Taking a bath here would usually mean filling a big container with water as some sort of bathtub and that's it the child just drowns. Hope events like this won't happen again.
Hope events like this won't happen again.1 person likes this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
27 Jul 08
I'm sure for these parents, the same thing won't happen ever again. However, I know for babies normal things or what might seem so to us are far more extreme to babies because their bodies aren't fully developed to cope with all the different circumstances like this with which their bodies would come into contact with. A baby is very fragile, like you said. I think even ten minutes in a hot car is too much for a child that young. It's so sad, but I'm sure it won't happen to these people again. People like us can definitely learn from it. I know I'm going to be so careful to keep track of my kids when I'm blessed with having any. Thanks for your thoughts.
@starchild2230 (71)
•
22 Jul 08
Accidents do happen. Their case should be looked at on an individual merit. Have they got other kids? Has anything similiar happened to either of the parents before? Hindsight is wonderful, and it is too easy to judge from a distance. I doubt it was deliberate and i doubt it would ever happen again. Let them mourn in peace. Their lives will be in ruins.
1 person likes this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
27 Jul 08
Beautiful response, Star. I'm not sure the answers to your questions as I don't know the details of the situation too much. All I know is what I shared briefly in this discussion description. I agree with you that they should be able to mourn in peace and not be bothered by people trying to charge them. Their losing a child alone would be consequence enough. Thanks!
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
22 Jul 08
"I know it was a complete accident and honest mistake on the parents’ part"
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with that. If it had been 5 minutes, I could call it an honest mistake....but over 2 hours? No that is not an accident. You don't "forget" you have a newborn for two hours. Even if each parent thought the other parent brought the baby in, that is something that needs to be verified. Did the parents not speak for over two hours? Two adults are capable of keeping track of a newborn...people don't just 'accidently' forget about their child for over two hours.
I do think they should be punished. I think something along the lines of 'negligent homicide' would be fitting. Hopefully killing their baby was enough of a lesson that they'll never do it again if they do have more children.
1 person likes this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
24 Jul 08
Hi, Fox. You don't have to apologize for disagreeing with me. Now that you put it that way, you're exactly right. How could two hours or more slide by as an accident? Especially with both a husband and wife at home. Two people being there at home makes a much better chance of at least one person remembering...but they didn't. What an awful thing to happen. Who knows what the parents were doing for two hours that they didn't take their baby out of the car, but it obviously was more important than the life of their newborn baby. I like how you termed this a "negligent homicide." It's very fitting and accurate to what the charges should be based upon. I'm convinced that how this situation played out with their child now gone will definitely keep them from letting this happen in the future. Perhaps God will still bless them with another child someday...maybe not anytime soon, though. Thanks for your honest opinion and response. I agree with you completely.
