Parents charged after their infant dies while driving in their hot car with no AC

[fried eggs]

Police in Oklahoma have arrested Angela and Christopher Randolph in the death of little Hannah. They've charged them both with felony neglect.

According to the cops, the Randolphs were driving their kids in a '90s Grand Am that had no air conditioning and only one window that opened. An autopsy is still pending, but the charges are based on the suspicion that the baby girl died of heat exhaustion because it was 100 degrees outside. The family says they pulled over at a convenience store and realized their daughter wasn't breathing. They called for help, but it was too late.

How many parents have cars with no air conditioning because they just can't afford to get it fixed? I have no shame in saying I've been there. As for the windows, well, power windows are likewise expensive to fix.

If nothing else, the story of what happened to Hannah Randolph should be a warning for parents, a reminder that just because you are OK, your baby may NOT be. They are much more fragile than we are, and they need accommodations much more than us, especially in the heat.

Full Story: http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/159483/baby_dies_in_hot_car

The couple also lost custody of their 15 month old child. This is a wake up call for people who drive kids around with no AC.

[Demo_Chris]

1. Seems like a weak case to me...

Which suggests there might be more to the story than we are getting here.

[limpyhobbler]

2. This is tragic. I'm not sure it makes sense to charge them with a crime though.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Tragic

and the charges only compound the situation for the parents grief.

[newfie11]

4. What did people do before air conditioning

I remember as a kid traveling through southern AZ in the summer before car air conditioning was invented. Also outside of Vegas both with Temps well above 110.

Yes we had all the windows down and yes it was miserable but we lived through it as did most folks before air conditioning.

I feel for the parents, they were in the car with their baby and didnt realize the danger.

[B Calm]

6. We drove though Death Valley in a 59 Cheverolet with no AC

Temps were around 120.

[leveymg]

5. The crime they should be charged with is Second-Degree Poverty.

Last edited Sat Aug 17, 2013, 12:33 PM - Edit history (1)

Too poor to fix the power accessories in their 23 year old car. The sentence should be a guaranteed job with a living wage.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. I'm On Board With Others Here

Not sure how this is a crime or neglect. They were in the car too.

Being poor should not be criminal.

[Ilsa]

8. They needed more education on caring

for a baby. Babies and the extreme elderly have a harder time withstanding extremes like severe heat.

I doubt that charging and imprisoning them is the answer.