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Tanuki

(16,439 posts)

2. As awful as this was, it sounds like an accidental or at most negligent homicide.

Thu Jun 19, 2014, 10:26 AM

Jun 2014

I don't see how you could "forget" that the child was in there, but that is what the police said happened. It's not like those cases where the parent deliberately leaves a child in the hot car while shopping at the mall or gambling at a casino. I would think that a charge of murder would require intent to harm. Poor little kid. Terrible thing to have happened.

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Father Charged with Murder in Death of Toddler Left in Car. [View all] RiffRandell Jun 2014 OP

Very sad yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #1

I was thinking the same. tosh Jun 2014 #8

A better solution would be a smart alarm that detected breathing in a hot parked car. Nye Bevan Jun 2014 #10

I like this idea. surrealAmerican Jun 2014 #35

We need something for dogs too Politicalboi Jun 2014 #78

Even simpler would be a weight detector under the child seat jmowreader Jun 2014 #49

Another possibility: Orrex Jun 2014 #50

Another possibility.... peace13 Jun 2014 #63

That's also a good suggestion Orrex Jun 2014 #64

I agree, but don't know what the answer is. RiffRandell Jun 2014 #11

As awful as this was, it sounds like an accidental or at most negligent homicide. Tanuki Jun 2014 #2

I know. A tragedy all around. tosh Jun 2014 #5

All it takes is something to distract from a routine... JHB Jun 2014 #13

That was an excellent read. RiffRandell Jun 2014 #29

Sleep deprivation is a big part of it. Nothing wrecks your concentration faster Warpy Jun 2014 #76

An app for that would be nice. GeorgeGist Jun 2014 #3

And I am not trying to diminish the pain of the situation, but an app would help busy parents... Tikki Jun 2014 #12

Or just putting something you'll be taking with you back with the child JHB Jun 2014 #19

absolutely... I don't know about men, but a woman would never leave a car without her purse renate Jun 2014 #87

I agree with you 100 percent yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #14

Already exist (as do non-app methods, as noted above) JHB Jun 2014 #20

Thank you yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #37

More. proverbialwisdom Jun 2014 #43

Another tragedy. proverbialwisdom Mar 2015 #96

I'll never understand how someone can forget their child is with them in the car. In_The_Wind Jun 2014 #4

it could happen to anyone with a brain because brains aren't perfect. unblock Jun 2014 #24

I've seen news reports about it many times. In_The_Wind Jun 2014 #25

Neither did many of the parents who've done it, until it happened to them. Gormy Cuss Jun 2014 #27

It really is sad for everyone involved. In_The_Wind Jun 2014 #30

I did it. Granted, it was only for less than a minute, but I seriously, seriously forgot I even msanthrope Jun 2014 #68

"It was only for less than a minute," In_The_Wind Jun 2014 #69

I don't get it either TorchTheWitch Jun 2014 #86

"Apparently, he forgot" becomes murder? Orsino Jun 2014 #6

Neglient homicide maybe 2nd Degree Murder avebury Jun 2014 #58

Yes. Bullshit. Orsino Jun 2014 #66

Looks like 3rd degree at the most, from a Georgia lawyer definition muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #74

We had an entire subset of DU rage against a Good Samaritan earlier this week Michigander_Life Jun 2014 #7

Well, get used to that subset. It ain't going nowhere. nt ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2014 #17

not the same thing at all and shame on you for attempting to make it so. CBGLuthier Jun 2014 #18

How is it not? Neglect is neglect. Michigander_Life Jun 2014 #39

Nothing happened and you don't know those kids IVoteDFL Jun 2014 #48

A few years ago a father left his child in his car in Broolyn Park and the child died. Jenoch Jun 2014 #60

you should be damn proud of yourself. and of your family renate Jun 2014 #88

+1 not the same at all lunasun Jun 2014 #40

If someone had seen the child in the car, I'm certain they would have. RiffRandell Jun 2014 #41

You know what? Sissyk Jun 2014 #46

I was just thinking of that. 840high Jun 2014 #53

Another subset is conspicuously quiet too Boom Sound 416 Jun 2014 #70

Yes it is davidpdx Jun 2014 #90

Not to minimize this, but... cilla4progress Jun 2014 #9

From the Consumer Reports article linked above csziggy Jun 2014 #56

Yep. cilla4progress Jun 2014 #75

so tragic. Any decent day care or school should start calling immediately for no shows. Sunlei Jun 2014 #15

This isn't the responsiblity of a day care kiva Jun 2014 #22

this is absolutely something all day care providers should do. unblock Jun 2014 #26

If daycares want to have this a part of their business, kiva Jun 2014 #38

i get reminders from doctors and dentists a couple days ahead of my appointment unblock Jun 2014 #44

no, any business taking care of living beings should always check on no shows. a kid is not a pizza Sunlei Jun 2014 #45

I was thinking of this too. RiffRandell Jun 2014 #34

Terrible incident similar to this one occurred here... Eleanors38 Jun 2014 #16

I read an article once about a woman who was chatting on her cell phone and left tblue37 Jun 2014 #83

A tragic incident, but I think the DA way overcharged. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #21

I'm not trying to be argumentative, kiva Jun 2014 #31

I think the emotional guilt if it were a daycare worker and also purely accidental.... Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #36

+1. nt tblue37 Jun 2014 #85

You don't know what actually happened, do you? LisaL Jun 2014 #94

This isn't a case of felony murder. sinkingfeeling Jun 2014 #23

And you know this how? LisaL Jun 2014 #93

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO TRY TO AVOID THIS: unblock Jun 2014 #28

Excellent suggestions! theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #33

Terrific suggestions Orrex Jun 2014 #51

Excellent List BrotherIvan Jun 2014 #62

This would be my suggestion, too. phylny Jun 2014 #79

So very sad BrotherIvan Jun 2014 #80

The problem with the stuffed animal in the front seat is the same as the problem I have remembering tblue37 Jun 2014 #84

that's right. in a way it's amazing we don't lose more kids than we do. unblock Jun 2014 #91

'Felony murder?' I question this, elleng Jun 2014 #32

And reasoning like that is why so many are not avebury Jun 2014 #55

It appears not to have contained the prior planning elleng Jun 2014 #57

2nd Degree murder does not require prior planning. avebury Jun 2014 #59

I believe 2nd Degree murder does require intent, though. yellowcanine Jun 2014 #67

Agree. Where is the Mens Rea (the guilty mind)? Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2014 #81

Gene Weingarten's Pulitzer-Winning Feature, 'Fatal Distraction' Crabby Appleton Jun 2014 #42

wow -- that's quite a read fishwax Jun 2014 #73

This is just so sad. Sissyk Jun 2014 #47

you know a read a study about this, and it seems that while it is awful La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2014 #52

But you know that avebury Jun 2014 #54

If He Accidently Shot His Child otohara Jun 2014 #61

How can it be "felony murder" if the account is correct? yellowcanine Jun 2014 #65

felony murder is when a death occurs in the commission of a felony -- so I guess the felony here is fishwax Jun 2014 #72

maybe daycares need to call the parents if a Child doesn't show up JI7 Jun 2014 #71

That could happen to a lot of people. You think it could never be you but you never know. brewens Jun 2014 #77

Yet when a parent leaves a loaded gun within the reach of a child, tblue37 Jun 2014 #82

There might be more to the story. LisaL Jun 2014 #92

Oh God. Such a heartbreaking story, every time this happens. Warren DeMontague Jun 2014 #89

Absolutely horrifying ... for everyone etherealtruth Jun 2014 #95