FL - Jace Leslie, 20 months, dies in hot car, Orlando, 11 Sept 2020 *teacher arrested*

[JerseyGirl]

Deputies arrest Florida teacher in death of boy left in hot car

Orange County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Dougkindra Wallace, 34, Monday in charges of aggravated manslaughter and neglect of a child.

Wallace, a third grade teacher at Rolling Hills Elementary School in Orlando, regularly drove Jace Leslie, 20 months, to and from his day care provider’s home on days that his mother worked. The boy’s mother paid her $80 a month for the arrangement, and Wallace had been driving the boy for about 10 months.

Investigators said Wallace was “likely distracted” by her phone conversation while driving, which caused her to forget to drop off the boy.

 

[PayrollNerd]

She must have hung up the phone when she arrived, right? She left the car running, walked to the office to get her temp checked, then re-entered the car, parked and went inside. What does this timeline have to do with the phone call??? She left that car running while she went to get her temp check. Why else would she leave the car running? That to me signals she knew the baby was in there.

“Jace was left in the car, which she left running, while she got her temperature checked at the school’s front office, the warrant said. Wallace then parked in the teacher’s parking lot and turned off the car. Jace was left inside in a back-facing car seat when she got out and went into the school about 7:55 a.m.“

 

[Filly]

What world is this? Everyone is juggling, scraping, trying to get by. I know this happens and not on purpose. Distractions, different schedules.

Not judging, and this is just me, but how do you forget you have a baby in the car? How? My heart breaks for people so busy they left their little ones. Still, me? I'dhave to have eight kids with me to even lose sight of one, and then have a tachycardia.

May all those in the involved in the baby's demise get through this somehow. So sad.

 

[Tutter]

Oh that poor baby. I am not one to even feel compassion for the person who leaves the baby in the car, but this one does seem to be a a terrible accident. she really thought she took him to the sitter evidenced by driving to the sitters house after school. It sounds like she didn’t have him every day, but only the days the mother worked.

I think she must have left the car running b/c it was just a second to run in and test and then she parked.

there has got to be a better way, a system, an alarm, something to ensure the back seat is checked before leaving. I also think the providers should follow up to check if they are expecting a kid that does not show up. A quick text or call could possibly save some lives.

 

[dmac55]

I can't get past that she left a car running and unattended near an elementary school