2-year-old child dies after Fla. parents leave her in hot car for 14 hours

HOLMES COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) — A 23-year-old mother and her husband are facing several charges after their 2-year-old child was left in a hot car for 14 hours and died.

According to Holmes County Sheriff John Tate, on Tuesday, May 16, at 3:51 p.m., Kathreen Adams called 911 and sounded “hysterical” on the phone, though she reportedly could not provide any details as to why she was crying. A deputy arrived at her home two minutes later to conduct a welfare check and found Adams holding an unresponsive 2-year-old child. The Holmes County deputy called for EMS to assist and started CPR on the little girl.

Medics arrived and attempted to render lifesaving aid, but they pronounced her dead at 3:59 p.m.

Deputies took Adams and her husband, 32-year-old Christopher McLean, to the station for an interview. McLean allegedly was uncooperative and would not speak with investigators. Adams reportedly told deputies she found her daughter inside the home and called 911. Medics, however, noted the girl’s body temperature was 107 degrees.

Tate said “things weren’t adding up,” so investigators began interviewing witnesses and trying to get information out of Adams.

According to Tate, Adams said she picked up the 2-year-old victim and a 4-year-old child from their babysitter at around midnight Tuesday. The 2-year-old was reportedly asleep in the car, so Adams reportedly “decided to leave her in the car.”

Adams and McLean fell asleep and did not realize their daughter was still in the car until late that afternoon. Tate said there was still some “gray area” as to when Adams found the girl deceased in the car and when they called 911.

Investigators executed search warrants at Adams and McLean’s home and discovered meth, meth pipes, marijuana, and other drugs. Adams and McLean were arrested on charges of child neglect, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia, though additional charges are likely following the autopsy.

The 4-year-old child is now in custody of the Department of Children and Families.

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