Father Forgets Infant in Hot Car, Leading to Tragic Death
August 15, 2024
TENNESSEE: A devastating incident has occurred in Tennessee, where a father's forgetfulness led to the tragic death of his infant daughter. Timothy Paul Blackdeer, 35, has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated child abuse or neglect after leaving his daughter in a hot car for several hours.
According to the Collegedale Police Department, Blackdeer was driving erratically when he was pulled over by Chief Jack Sapp. Upon approaching the vehicle, Sapp found the infant unresponsive and limp in the front seat. Blackdeer admitted to leaving the child in the car all day while he was at work.
The incident occurred on Monday when Blackdeer took his three youngest children to the babysitter, but forgot to leave the infant with her. He then went to work, leaving the child in the car for several hours. When Blackdeer realized his mistake, he rushed to the car and found the infant unresponsive.
The infant was taken to Erlanger Children's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The temperature outside was 85 degrees at the time of the incident, and the child's body temperature had reached a scorching 105.8 degrees.
Blackdeer allegedly told police that he had taken the children to the babysitter, but didn't realize he had left the infant in the car until his wife called him around 3 p.m. to ask where their youngest daughter was. He then rushed to the car and found the infant unresponsive.
The mother of the infant stated that she had gotten the children ready for the babysitter that morning and left before Blackdeer and the children. She assumed the infant was with the babysitter until she received a text from the babysitter around 6:18 a.m. noting the child's absence. However, she didn't think much of it, assuming the child had stayed home with their older daughters.
Blackdeer is currently being held in the Hamilton County Jail without bond.
