A North Carolina mom is facing manslaughter charges after police said she left her 8-year-old daughter locked inside her car during last week’s heatwave, killing the youngster.
Ashlee Stallings, 36, was being held at the Mecklenburg Detention Facility on a $250,000 bond on involuntary manslaughter and child neglect charges for leaving the girl locked inside in blistering heat while she was at work at her Amazon job on Wednesday, police said in a press release.
According to police records reviewed by WCNC-TV News, Stallings admitted to cops that she left her daughter inside the car while the outside temperature was 94 degrees so she could go to work.
She allegedly told police she left the car running outside the Amazon Fulfillment center where she works with the air on but said her daughter may have shut it off because she was cold, the outlet reported.
Stallings returned to the car about 90 minutes after last getting a text from the girl and saw her lying motionless on the floor of the car– and smashed the window with a hammer to reach her.
The girl, whose name was not released, was taking shallow breaths and was foaming at the mouth.
Cops said they were called to the scene shortly before 6:30 p.m. and found the girl unresponsive.
She was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead – and Stallings was arrested.
A spokesperson for Amazon called the incident “tragic” in a statement to WCNC.
“This is an incredibly tragic incident,” the statement said. “During this difficult time, we’re supporting our employees and have made counseling resources widely available.
“We’re also working closely with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department as they investigate.”
The outlet said Wednesday was the hottest day of the year with a high temperature of 99 degrees.
Stallings is due back in court on July 16.
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