Tragic Death of Toddler on Martha’s Vineyard Raises Concerns

A heartbroken father from Martha’s Vineyard shared the distressing details of how his 2-year-old son, Frankie, was allegedly left to die in a car by his nanny while she tended to other tasks. Matt Rodenbaugh reported that his son’s cries for help were captured on video.

Rodenbaugh accused Amy Cotton, 40, of treating Frankie cruelly, resulting in his death from hypothermia after being found unresponsive in a car seat at Cotton’s home in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, last March. Reports indicate that Frankie had been left without food or water for hours.

The tragic events unfolded on March 13, 2025, and were reportedly recorded by a camera positioned outside Cotton’s residence.

“She tortured my child,” Rodenbaugh expressed, refering to his son as his “mini-me.” He emphasized the haunting moments in the footage: “They enhanced the audio on the video, and you could hear him calling Dada over and over again until the silence took over.”

Cotton, who was charged in September with manslaughter and reckless endangerment, stated to the police that she had spent three hours cooking and organizing while Frankie cried in the SUV. When she eventually noticed he had stopped breathing, she called for help.

Initially, Rodenbaugh and his wife, Julie, thought the situation was tragic, but things shifted dramatically when police reviewed the security footage. They were stunned by what they discovered.

“We looked at the footage from the camera outside the house,” Rodenbaugh recalled, discussing his conversation with law enforcement. He said Cotton arrived home around 9 o’clock and then did not return to the car until approximately 12:30 or 1 o’clock.

Rodenbaugh, along with his wife, felt betrayed as they had known Cotton for a decade and had previously trusted her with their daughter.

“She played Russian roulette with her son’s life,” he said somberly. “He couldn’t win. Amy killed him.”

Currently free on bail and pleading not guilty, Cotton awaits trial. Meanwhile, Rodenbaugh has taken legal action against her and is advocating for other parents to stay vigilant about their children’s care.

“I think it’s important to trust but verify,” he advised. “Trust your instincts, ask questions, and make sure it’s okay to keep an eye on your child’s safety. Always listen to what they have to say.”