3-year-old boy died of hyperthermia after his 41-year-old mother “knowingly” left him in a closed garage during high temperatures; mother arrested
Iowa – In a tragic case that shook Iowa residents, a 41‑year‑old woman, identified as T. Holmes, was charged with child endangerment resulting in death after her 3‑year‑old son died from extreme heat exposure in a closed garage. Holmes surrendered to authorities on December 21, 2025, and was booked into the county Jail on the serious felony charge after a months‑long investigation into the boy’s death.
According to court records and statements from law enforcement, Holmes “knowingly” left her young son alone in the garage for a period of time that resulted in hyperthermia, causing his death. The charge reflects prosecutors’ belief that her failure to protect the child from dangerous conditions—especially on a day with high temperatures in the low 90s—rises to the level of criminal negligence.
The events leading to the boy’s death unfolded on June 28, 2025, at their home. Emergency crews were called just after Holmes dialed 911 to report that her son was unresponsive in what she described as a life‑threatening situation. When officers from the sheriff’s office and EMS arrived at the residence, they found the 3‑year‑old boy unresponsive and not breathing. Responders immediately began lifesaving measures, including CPR, but despite their rapid efforts, the boy could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A warrant affidavit later revealed that the boy was likely overheated in the closed garage, where he had been left for an unknown period on a day when temperatures climbed into the low 90s. Holmes told investigators that she had taken a nap and could not recall when she went to sleep or for how long. When she woke up and checked on her son, she found him sitting in a folding lawn chair in the garage, where the overhead door was shut.
Holmes told police that the child’s lips were blue and that he was “hot to the touch” and “extremely sweaty.” She said it was only about five to 10 minutes after finding him that she called 911 for help. Dispatchers instructed her to bring the boy inside and perform CPR, which she did before first responders arrived. Investigators digging into the circumstances of the boy’s death discovered troubling details surrounding both the environment and Holmes’s behavior. According to the criminal complaint, Holmes admitted she was drinking alcohol at the time she was the sole caregiver for her son. A mostly consumed bottle of vodka was found in the home.
Holmes claimed she drank after she discovered her son unresponsive, but officers were not able to draw her blood to check her intoxication level because of the delay by the time police arrived. The child’s father, who came home after being notified of the emergency, reported to investigators that Holmes had struggled with alcohol abuse for about five years and that she was not allowed to have alcohol in the home. The father also told police that his son did not normally go into the garage and was unable to open doors on his own, especially the garage door, which was broken and had to be manually lifted to open.
The affidavit that supported the issuance of a search warrant states that Holmes and law enforcement investigators concluded that the boy’s death resulted from prolonged heat exposure in the enclosed space, which led to hyperthermia. After turning herself in late on Sunday, December 21, Holmes was formally charged with child endangerment resulting in death, a Class B felony under Iowa law. She is being held at the county jail on a $1 million bond, reflecting the severity of the allegations against her.
Her next court date is scheduled for January 2, 2026, where a judge will oversee preliminary hearings and move the case forward in the criminal justice system. Prosecutors will present evidence gathered from the investigation, including Holmes’s statements to police, the findings from the scene, and testimony from the child’s father and first responders. For the community and the family, the loss of the young boy is a devastating reminder of the dangers of heat exposure in enclosed spaces—particularly for children who cannot escape on their own. The legal process now underway aims to address the questions of accountability and ensure that justice is served in this heartbreaking case of neglect and loss.
