A father in Alabama is accused of leaving his infant to perish in a hot car after spending the day drinking and stepping out to buy more alcohol, according to authorities and various reports.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Capt. Jack Kennedy from the Tuscaloosa County Violent Crimes Unit announced that manslaughter charges were brought forth after a grandmother discovered her 1-year-old grandson deceased in a car seat.
The grandmother had been trying to reach the father, Logan Keith Chewning, 30, who was supposed to keep an eye on the child while the mother was at work.
Kennedy reported that Chewning confessed to drinking throughout the day and mentioned he left the house to get more alcohol. “At one point, he took the child and never returned with him,” Kennedy explained to the media.
The child remained in the vehicle for several hours as the afternoon temperatures soared to the mid-90s.
According to the captain, the car was in direct sunlight during this time.
Authorities suggested there were signs that Chewning may have consumed too much alcohol before the child’s tragic death, as paramedics reported detecting the scent of alcohol upon their arrival.
While Chewning has expressed remorse, Kennedy pointed out that his actions were reckless, categorizing it as anything but an accident. There’s a possibility these charges could be escalated to felony murder.
“It’s a heartbreaking situation for everyone involved,” Kennedy remarked, noting that all responders at the scene were affected by the event.
He further emphasized that anyone responsible for an infant shouldn’t be engaging in heavy drinking or working excessive hours, as such behavior is essentially reckless.
The investigation is still in progress.
In a related earlier incident, a father named Christopher Scholz left his 2-year-old to die in a scorching car while he stayed inside watching adult content, drinking beer, and playing video games. Scholz, 38, later took his own life in a garage due to carbon monoxide poisoning, trying to escape the consequences he faced.
