As temperatures soared in Melissa, Texas on Tuesday, a 6-month-old baby girl has died after being left in a hot car for a prolonged period.
The girl’s father, Michael Thedford, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter. Thedford reportedly dropped off his two other children at daycare and returned home with the baby at 9 a.m. She had apparently spiked a fever the night before and could not go to daycare.
Police were told that he completely forgot about the little girl in the vehicle and went inside the house to go to sleep. He then woke up three hours later and then only and discovered her in the van.
According to court records, the father said that when he found her, her body was extremely hot.
He then attempted to cool her by putting her in a refrigerator, before calling 911. Thedford and his wife also attempted to perform CPR on the girl, but it was already too late.
Paramedics and firefighters responded to the call around 1.30 pm at the Thedford home and were later followed by detectives who questioned the family.
According to court records, the father was arrested and booked into the Colin County Jail but was released on $20 000 bond the same day.