An Alabama couple is facing criminal charges in the death of their son, who was allegedly found dead in a hot car over the weekend.
Authorities located an unresponsive 3-year-old boy at 4 p.m. on Aug. 9 in Hodges, Alabama, said the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in a statement.
Emergency services personnel were not able to revive the boy, who was not identified, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
His parents were identified as Dakota Heath Fowler, 20, and Brandi Michelle Burks, 21. They were arrested and both charged with manslaughter.
The parents told the sheriff’s office that the boy “was last seen around midnight when they put him to bed,” according to the office, which added that they both “woke up around 3:00 p.m.” and “were unable to locate the child and found him in a car.”
The child’s body was taken to the Alabama Department of Forensics for an autopsy. The case remains under investigation.
Both Fowler and Burks are being held in a local jail without bail, reported AL.com, citing jail records.
According to AL.com, citing officials, the boy was identified as Bentley Fowler.
Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said he believes the death is a tragic accident.
“I don’t feel there was any intent there,” he said. “I think it was neglect, which sadly cost the little guy’s life.”
He added that it is merely “a sad situation all around.”
Local reports said the temperatures on Sunday reached around 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
KidsAndCars.org, a nonprofit, says Fowler is the 15th child in the United States to have died in a hot car so far this year.
It’s not clear if the parents have attorneys.
