9-month old dies in hot minivan

[Pandabear]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/09/03/baby_death_heat.html?cxntnid=amn090408e

Foster mother said she had taken prescription medication, forgot baby was in vehicle



Wednesday, September 03, 2008

A 9-month-old girl died Tuesday after her foster mother said she forgot the infant inside a hot minivan for more than two hours, officials said.

Jackson County sheriff’s deputies are still investigating Wendy Osborne’s account. The 29-year-old Nicholson woman told Jackson County Sheriff deputies that she came home from a doctor’s appointment about 2:30 p.m., unloaded her two adopted girls but forgot about the baby in the car seat.

Osborne, a foster parent for five years, said she took a nap, waking around 5 p.m. Maj. David Cochran of the sheriff’s department said at that point she remembered the baby in the minivan.

State Child Advocate Tom Rawlings identified the girl as Jessica Marie Scovil. The infant, who had lived with Osborne for five months, was pronounced dead by emergency personnel called to the scene, Cochran said.

Osborne told deputies she had been sick for several days and was prescribed medication for strep throat, which may have contributed to her drowsiness. A toxicology report has been ordered, and charges could be filed.

Two other foster children who had been living with Osborne were removed from the home, Cochran said.

The state Division of Family and Children Services, which oversees the foster care system, is also investigating the death, said spokeswoman Dena Smith. She said there had been no indications of problems with Osborne as foster mother.

Rawlings said if Osborne’s version is correct, he would tend to oppose criminal charges.

“I usually look at these kinds of situations as there but for the grace of God go I,” he said.

[dojewo]

RIP little one, your life was taken way to young.

[Roamer]

How many times has one of us laid aside a medicine we know we need because our kids come first? Take it later when dad's home, when they're napping, whatever!

Sorry, folks, this just rubs me the the wrong way.

Fly with the angels, little one.:1222423:

[RayStar]

Yes, we may changes to our schedules when taking care of our precious little ones. Why take meds you know will knock you out when alone? I don't like it either. RIP

[Amusedtdth]

:1222423::1222423::1222423:

[annalyzer]

Okay, how did she not see the baby in the carseat when she got the other two girls out?

Why is it that people don't forget to get their milk out of the car but forget their children?

How do you forget a baby??

[Amusedtdth]

Okay, how did she not see the baby in the carseat when she got the other two girls out?

Why is it that people don't forget to get their milk out of the car but forget their children?

How do you forget a baby??

Anna, thats the age old question and if we had an answer it wouldn't happen. They say "accidents happen" but in my eyes, this type of thing has happened far too many times to be an accident anymore. Pure negligence.
MOO

[nanabillie]

Once when my boys were little, maybe 6 & 8, a doctor gave me a prescription for something don't remember what. I took one pill and could not hold my eyes open. I made the kids come inside, lock the door and promise not to open it to anyone. Had I been some place besides home I don't know what I would have done. I flushed the rest of the pills. "There but for the grace of God". I agree

[Claycat]

So tragic! :sad0119:

[Boscorelli]

I am very sorry,but I can not buy this STORY;forgetting to take a child out of the car.:groan: Example: Last friday I did my food shopping on line and at the time when I placed the other,I forgot to place an item. True a little inconvient for me,but no big deal. I just finished doing another on-line food shopping and made sure I put the items in. These are food items,not a child.
This is the 4th story??? like this within the last 6 months that I have read on our message board
Unless the woman physical condition was so severe=passing out unconscience,her excuse is 'pathatic at best.
For the present moment,there will be no charges;but upon further investigation,there may be.

Boscorelli

[5boxersmom]

Again? Damn.They have got to start charging these people. :mad:


For this little one and all the others this has happen to.

:1222423::1222423::1222423:

[TobyTiger]

What business did she have driving if she was taking medication which made her drowsy?

If she took the medication after she got home, how did she forget the baby in the car seat when she removed the other children?

Charges should definitely be filed.

:madranting94dp:

[Boscorelli]

Hi TobyTiger
Exactly my point:
1 How could this woman forget an infant,yet remember 2 children?:0009:
2.Prescription medication,comes with instructions;namely DO NOT DRIVE OR USE HEAVY EQUIPTMENT etc.
The drowsiness does affect different people in different ways.
Technically she is DUI with 3 children in the car.
There is a lot more to this story and YES she should be charged:
RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT TO THE WELL BEING OF A CHILD.
Yesterday I read on my news website that the woman who put her infant into a mircowave was found GUILTY of 1st murder LWOP.THe jury could not vote for a 12-0 for the DEATH PENALTY.
Taking care of children certainly not easy;but the woman makes the choice,to get pregnant and gives birth.
Her CHOICE but the child payes the consequences,
Boscorelli
Boscorelli

[Tempus Teapot]

What business did she have driving if she was taking medication which made her drowsy?

If she took the medication after she got home, how did she forget the baby in the car seat when she removed the other children?

Charges should definitely be filed.

:madranting94dp:

Doesn't it seem like in cases like this where the woman leaves her kid in the car for hours (thus killing them) that the woman cries so much and appears so grief stricken and hysterical that the police don't file charges and believe that the mother's grief is punishment enough?

I know this sounds ugly, but in a way that sort of response (not charging the mother with anything - even if it really is an accident) just makes it that much easier for the next mother to "accidentally" leave their child in his car seat for hours.

I feel cold saying that because I know that accidents do indeed happen all the time, and I can't imagine the grief you feel when something like that happens.

imo

[Micky_Spill]

Doesn't it seem like in cases like this where the woman leaves her kid in the car for hours (thus killing them) that the woman cries so much and appears so grief stricken and hysterical that the police don't file charges and believe that the mother's grief is punishment enough?

I know this sounds ugly, but in a way that sort of response (not charging the mother with anything - even if it really is an accident) just makes it that much easier for the next mother to "accidentally" leave their child in his car seat for hours.

I feel cold saying that because I know that accidents do indeed happen all the time, and I can't imagine the grief you feel when something like that happens.

imo
Leaving a child in the care is not an accident.

[Boscorelli]

Hi Micky Spill
I agree with you 10000% leaveing a child in a car is NO ACCIDENT. Any woman can certain go hysterical.
Why???? The crimminal trial and conviction in the future.
We all can and do forget things. I constantly misplace my pen;and then I have to retrace my steps of when and where I last used it. Go food shopping,it isn't unusual to forget to pick up an item or two.Why? Because we can think of other things,while we go through this routine food shopping.
When I do house cleaning,my mind is occupied with other thoughts,while my hands go through the familiar cleaning actions. This is called multi-tasking in psychology.
It is totally impossible to forget a child in a car,whether the child is awake or asleep.

Boscorelli

[Tempus Teapot]

I don't think it's totally impossible.

[TobyTiger]

Hi TobyTiger
Exactly my point:
1 How could this woman forget an infant,yet remember 2 children?:0009:
2.Prescription medication,comes with instructions;namely DO NOT DRIVE OR USE HEAVY EQUIPTMENT etc.
The drowsiness does affect different people in different ways.
Technically she is DUI with 3 children in the car.
There is a lot more to this story and YES she should be charged:
RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT TO THE WELL BEING OF A CHILD.
Yesterday I read on my news website that the woman who put her infant into a mircowave was found GUILTY of 1st murder LWOP.THe jury could not vote for a 12-0 for the DEATH PENALTY.
Taking care of children certainly not easy;but the woman makes the choice,to get pregnant and gives birth.
Her CHOICE but the child payes the consequences,
Boscorelli
Boscorelli
First of all, I would want to know what the medication is she was taking, and when she had the last dosage prior to the doctor's appointment she was returning home from. The article did state toxicology tests were pending.

Ideally, she should have had someone else care for the children while she was at the doctor's appointment, or had someone else drive her to the appointment if indeed she had been taking medication. Unfortunately she may not have had anyone to assist her...however, that still does not negate the possibility she was driving while impaired, which also appears to be a factor in why she forgot the infant was still in the vehicle when she arrived home.

Felony child endangerment, at the least, in my opinion.

[TobyTiger]

Leaving a child in the care is not an accident.

Agree.

[jacki2005]

that is what u call a sad case for a human being im new to this site by the way

[Boscorelli]

Babysitting is a very popular money making activity.Teenagers and women of every age group are available.The very notion that she couldn't find anyone to help her is obsurd. There are day care centers,neighbors,friends.
But to say she got 2 children out of the car;but forgets the 9 month old infant,doesn't make sense;it's a contradiction at best.
This is a murder.manslaughter??? Or did she pre-meditate the death of the 9 month old?
She blocks herself in and backs herself in a no win situation;with her statement,of taking 2 children out of the car and leaveing the 9month old. in the car.
Even if the other 2 children were toddlers or below 5 years of age;forgetting to take a 9 month old .it doesn't make sense.The woman should have taken the 9 month old into the house first,then take care of the other 2 children;which could have been achieved in less than 5 minutes.
Recently we discussed another tragic story,where a woman went to a salon to get her nails done and left the child in a car and the child died.
Boscorelli

[TobyTiger]

that is what u call a sad case for a human being im new to this site by the way

Welcome!

[TobyTiger]

Babysitting is a very popular money making activity.Teenagers and women of every age group are available.The very notion that she couldn't find anyone to help her is obsurd. There are day care centers,neighbors,friends.
But to say she got 2 children out of the car;but forgets the 9 month old infant,doesn't make sense;it's a contradiction at best.
This is a murder.manslaughter??? Or did she pre-meditate the death of the 9 month old?
She blocks herself in and backs herself in a no win situation;with her statement,of taking 2 children out of the car and leaveing the 9month old. in the car.
Even if the other 2 children were toddlers or below 5 years of age;forgetting to take a 9 month old .it doesn't make sense.The woman should have taken the 9 month old into the house first,then take care of the other 2 children;which could have been achieved in less than 5 minutes.
Recently we discussed another tragic story,where a woman went to a salon to get her nails done and left the child in a car and the child died.
Boscorelli

My opinion only and based on what we know so far...

There doesn't appear to be pre-meditation, however, there is depraved indifference for human life by negligence in leaving the child inside the car which in most jurisdictions would qualify for 2nd degree Murder.

[Boscorelli]

Hi Toby Tiger
Depraved indifference to human life and pre-meditative murder,are the right and left hand of the situation.
All of us must cope with stressfull difficult situations;be they come from family,the workplace,irritateing/annoying neighbors etc. We are also faced with the dull mundane everyday life,obligations/responsibilities. How mature we are=how well we cope.
The major problem here I believe,is that people take on To much,to soon to fast and it all comes crashing in on them.
For the present moment,as we speak,I have enough responsibilities/obligations,that I can handle very well .I am not interested in taking on any moreThe 'perks' of living alone .When necessary I can put one or two aside and 'go on a mini mindset vacation' TIME OUT BREATHER,what ever you want to call it.
Boscorelli