An eight-year-old girl died on June 26, 2024 after being left in a hot car in Charlotte, North Carolina for up to 3 1/2 hours. The girl’s mother, Ashlee Stallings, 36, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse by willful act causing serious injury, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
On Wednesday, CMPD officers responded to a call at around 6:30 p.m. on Wilkinson Boulevard. Upon arrival, they found the young girl in critical condition inside a vehicle. She was rushed to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center but was pronounced dead early Thursday morning.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Stallings had left her daughter in the car with the air conditioning running while she went to work at an Amazon Fulfillment Center near the airport. Stallings later admitted to the police that she knew the outside temperature was 94 degrees Fahrenheit and that her daughter should not have been left in the car alone. She believed her daughter might have turned off the air conditioning because she was cold.
Stallings said the last communication with her daughter was via text message about an hour and a half before she found her unresponsive on the backseat floorboard. She used a hammer to break open the back window and then drove toward the hospital, stopping at a nearby business on Wilkinson Boulevard to call for help.
The CMPD confirmed that the girl suffered a medical emergency due to the extreme heat inside the car, which had reached 99 degrees outside, making it the hottest day of the year so far in Charlotte.
“We’ve observed an uptick in numbers, and given the intense heat, we fear this summer could be particularly devastating,” said Amber Rollins, director of Kids and Car Safety. The organization promotes heightened awareness and car safety measures to prevent such tragedies.
An Amazon spokesperson expressed the company’s condolences and support for its employees: “This is an incredibly tragic event. During this difficult time, we support our employees and have made counseling resources widely available.” The company also affirmed its cooperation with the CMPD during the investigation.
Stallings is held in the Mecklenburg County Jail on a $250,000 bond. She has been appointed a public defender, and her next court hearing is scheduled for July 17. If convicted, Stallings faces significant legal consequences for the charges brought against her.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 40 children die from heatstroke in cars each year in the United States, with incidents occurring more frequently in the summer months. This tragic event highlights the ongoing issue of child hot car deaths and the importance of constant vigilance and preventive measures to ensure the safety of children.
