Florida – In Florida, 25-year-old Cathreen was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including aggravated manslaughter, in connection with the tragic death of her 1-year-old child two years ago. Authorities say Cathreen and her boyfriend, 35-year-old Kristopher, left the baby alone in a vehicle for nearly 15 hours, resulting in the child’s death due to hyperthermia. The baby’s body temperature reached 108 degrees.
According to prosecutors, both Cathreen and Kristopher were under the influence of drugs when they made the fateful decision to leave their child in the car overnight. After falling asleep, they awoke the following day around 4 p.m. to find their baby unresponsive. Despite their attempts to revive the child, the baby was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation began in May 2023 when a 911 call was made by the parents reporting that their baby was not breathing. A deputy was dispatched to perform a welfare check following a 911 call received at 3:43 p.m. on the day of the incident. The first deputy arrived at the scene within two minutes. Upon arrival, the deputy encountered an individual holding an unresponsive 2-year-old child outside. The deputy immediately began CPR, initiating life-saving measures.
Unfortunately, it was too late. The child was pronounced dead at 3:59 p.m. Both parents were promptly taken into custody for questioning. Due to the child’s alarmingly high body temperature, investigators suspected that something was not right. After further investigation, it was determined that the girl had been left in the car. Authorities in Florida later confirmed that the baby had died from hyperthermia, a condition caused by prolonged exposure to extreme heat, with a body temperature of 108 degrees.
Following the incident, both parents were taken into custody. During the investigation, Cathreen explained that she had picked up the baby and her older child from a babysitter before returning home. Realizing that the baby had fallen asleep in the car, the couple decided to leave the child in the vehicle while they went inside. High on drugs, both parents fell asleep, and it wasn’t until the next day that they discovered the baby’s condition. The woman immediately called 911 after finding her unresponsive child.
The mother later confessed to leaving the baby in the vehicle for nearly 14 hours while under the influence of methamphetamine. Kristopher, however, refused to provide a statement during questioning. Prosecutors planned to present evidence in court showing that the couple had been high on meth when they returned home after midnight. They were also prepared to call witnesses to testify about their state during that time.
The woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison after her guilty plea, while the child’s dad received a 22-year sentence for his role in the child’s death. This tragic incident underscores the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, especially under the influence of substances like methamphetamine. It serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of responsible parenting and the devastating consequences of neglect.