10-month-old baby died after her mother, who was previously accused of child abuse, left her inside a 150-degree vehicle for two hours while she was at work; mother arrested
Louisiana – In a tragic and heartbreaking case out of Louisiana, a mother faces severe legal consequences after her baby died due to being left in a scorching car. The 32-year-old mother of six children, identified as H. Cormier, 32, has been charged with second-degree murder following the death of her 10-month-old daughter, who suffered fatal heatstroke after being left unattended in a vehicle.
On a sweltering Tuesday, August 13, Cormier was called into work, and according to her statements to authorities, she “accidentally” left her young daughter in the car. The baby remained in the vehicle for approximately two hours, during which the car’s internal temperature soared to between 140° and 150°. It wasn’t until Cormier returned to her car that she discovered the dire situation. She took the baby to the hospital around 4 p.m. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of medical staff, the child’s condition deteriorated, and she succumbed to her injuries the following night, with her temperature having reached a critical 109 degrees upon hospital admission.
Authorities launched a thorough investigation involving witness interviews and a review of surveillance footage. Their findings led to Cormier’s arrest on Sunday, August 18. The complexity of the case, as noted by Chief D. Semmes, steered the charges towards second-degree murder rather than negligent homicide, reflecting the serious nature of the oversight and its tragic outcome.
Compounding the gravity of the situation are previous allegations of child abuse against Cormier. Her ex-husband, N. Ashworth, disclosed a troubling history, claiming that he reported Cormier in 2016 for shoving his 4-month-old daughter’s head into a pillow to stop her from crying. These earlier allegations have now resurfaced, potentially influencing the case against Cormier. Ashworth, who shares two children with Cormier, expressed his intention to seek full custody and has involved the Department of Child and Family Services to ensure the safety of his children. His revelations about past incidents add a layer of complexity to the current charges Cormier faces, highlighting a potentially ongoing pattern of endangerment.
Cormier is currently detained on a $1 million bond, facing charges that could lead to a life sentence if convicted. This case has not only devastated a family but also stirred the community and reignited discussions on the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. According to statistics, 23 children have died in hot cars in the current year alone, with last year’s total at 29.
