(Brittany. Photo Credit: TheSun Nigeria)
A two-year-old girl has d!ed after her babysitter left her in a scorching hot car for more than three hours.
The toddler’s mum was at work while Brittany Nicole, 2, was left in a 2012 Honda Odyssey for around three hours, according to police.
Little Brittany had just celebrated her second birthday when she was found in the car on a 33-degree (92 Fahrenheit) day in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
She was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced d£ad.
Brittany’s mum, Cristina Lopez, said she had never had an issue with the babysitter before and believed her daughter would be safe.
However, Cristina claimed that while she was at work, the unnamed babysitter left the toddler with her father instead of caring for her directly as agreed.
The father allegedly left little Brittany in the car from 9:30am to 1pm under the intense Florida heat.
Cristina said police informed her on July 7 that no charges would be filed against either the babysitter or her father, according to a fundraiser set up for the family.
Police reportedly explained that charges could not be filed because the man was mentally ill and the babysitter had not signed a formal contract.
Some reports indicated the babysitter’s father suffered from dementia.
The fundraiser was launched to help cover funeral home fees for Brittany, as her grieving mother struggles to meet the costs.
Cristina also wants answers as to why her daughter was left in the heat for so long.
According to the family, police found the baby at 1pm but did not inform Cristina until 2:45pm.
They described her as a hardworking and humble person who, due to someone else’s carelessness, lost her only daughter, adding that police would not let her see her baby girl until a funeral home was arranged, which the family has now found and is raising funds for.
The mother told a local news outlet that she simply wants justice.
Police said the Broward State Attorney’s Office is reviewing the circumstances to determine whether criminal charges are appropriate, while the department awaits the Medical Examiner’s final report.
Authorities have launched an investigation, which remains in its preliminary stages, describing the incident as a heartbreaking loss and expressing condolences to the child’s family and all those affected by the tragedy.
Police also used the moment to remind parents, guardians, and caregivers in the community to always check the back seat before locking their vehicle and walking away.
Police Chief Michel Michel said the tragedy has touched the entire community, noting that while nothing can undo the pain the family is experiencing, their hearts remain with them.
He expressed hope that the child’s story would inspire every caregiver to adopt one simple habit, always checking the back seat before leaving the vehicle, stressing that taking that extra moment could prevent another family from experiencing such an unimaginable loss.
