FL - Scott Allen Gardner, Charged w Agg Manslaughter in Hot Car Death of 18 month old son Sebastian, Ormond Beach,6 June 2025

[tlcya]

According to VSO, 18-month-old Sebastian was "left helpless" in a hot truck for more than three hours on Friday, while his dad got a haircut and grabbed a drink.

Paramedics estimated that the boy's body was 111 degrees, VSO said. According to weather data, the recorded high temperature for Ormond Beach on Friday, June 6, was 92 degrees.
Florida toddler died in hot truck while dad got haircut, drank at bar, deputies say

Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Gardner arrived to get his haircut around 11:30 a.m. before then entering Hanky Panky's Lounge, where he began to drink beer and take shots. During this time, Chitwood said Gardner left Sebastian in the back seat of the car, which was not on, with no windows open and only a small mini fan pointing his way.

Officials say Gradner stayed at the bar from noon to about 2:40 p.m. During that time, officials believe the truck reached temperatures of up to 111 degrees.
Florida dad arrested in toddler's hot truck death: 'No reason for this little boy to be dead'

The heartless father allegedly gave multiple false accounts to police of the events leading up to his son’s death, the sheriff’s office said.
[snip]
“The same OBPD officer who tried to revive Sebastian placed Gardner in handcuffs today as he was taken into custody at his mother’s home in Ormond Beach,” the sheriff’s office said.
Florida dad left toddler son to die in hot car for 3 hours as he got haircut, went drinking at bar: police

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1786105025614720

Scott was arrested at his mom's house. A popular funding site has a fundraiser for Scott and little Sebastian's family as they mourn. I don't foresee it will be up long since Scott is now facing criminal charges. I am glad that karma allowed the same officer who attempted to save Sebastian to be the one to take Scott into custody several weeks later.

RIP little guy

 

[PayrollNerd]

If he wanted to go drinking, why didn’t he leave the baby with his mother!? Where’s the baby’s Mom, is she nearby too? She must be devastated. If there’s any funds, they need it to bury little Sebastian, not help this piece of poop father.

 

[Lgreen]

This is the county I 31K views · 1K reactions | Sheriff Chitwood gives media briefing after Ormond Beach toddler dies in hot car while dad gets haircut, drinks at bar. | Volusia Sheriff's Office in. Sheriff Chitwood speaks what he thinks.

 

[Clearsky]

Dad arrested for son's death after allegedly leaving him in hot car to go drinking

Police arrested a man they say is responsible for the death of his 18-month-old son after he left him “helpless in a hot truck” for three hours while he went drinking.

abcnews.go.com

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office along with the Ormond Beach Police Department arrested 33-year-old Scott Allen Gardner on Thursday and charged him with aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect causing great bodily harm, according to a statement from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

 

[mickey2942]

Dad arrested for son's death after allegedly leaving him in hot car to go drinking

Police arrested a man they say is responsible for the death of his 18-month-old son after he left him “helpless in a hot truck” for three hours while he went drinking.

abcnews.go.com

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office along with the Ormond Beach Police Department arrested 33-year-old Scott Allen Gardner on Thursday and charged him with aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect causing great bodily harm, according to a statement from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

This is interesting, and similar comparison to the death of Parker Scholtes, in Marana, AZ. It will be interesting to see what happens here. And if he will be treated the same. Already, I notice the differences, this man was arrested immediately and taken away in handcuffs. That didn't seem to happen to Chris Scholtes.

 

[Soulmagent]

Why do people keep leaving babies in cars?
Its not that hard to not leave one in them. I have gotten kids out repeatedly. Why are they so dumb?
And he went to a bar.
This idiot might need an IQ test before trial.

 

[mickey2942]

Why do people keep leaving babies in cars?
Its not that hard to not leave one in them. I have gotten kids out repeatedly. Why are they so dumb?
And he went to a bar.
This idiot might need an IQ test before trial.

Yes. I will be the first to admit that toddlers/babies are annoying. Did these people do it on purpose? Or just left them in the car for a "minute", and then forgot them? Or did they actually forget entirely that the baby was in the vehicle? Or did they not have a baby sitter, and thought this was an "okay" alternative? Just leave the baby in the car, it will sleep a bit, no big deal?

So many possibilities. Same result. Baby is dead. I personally think that leaving a baby in the car, because of going to work, is the same as leaving the baby in the car to go drinking is the same. There seems to be a negative connotation when someone leaves the baby in the car to drink or party.

Either way, the baby is dead. And the charges, or lack thereof are all over the map.

 

[Soulmagent]

Yes. I will be the first to admit that toddlers/babies are annoying. Did these people do it on purpose? Or just left them in the car for a "minute", and then forgot them? Or did they actually forget entirely that the baby was in the vehicle? Or did they not have a baby sitter, and thought this was an "okay" alternative? Just leave the baby in the car, it will sleep a bit, no big deal?

So many possibilities. Same result. Baby is dead. I personally think that leaving a baby in the car, because of going to work, is the same as leaving the baby in the car to go drinking is the same. There seems to be a negative connotation when someone leaves the baby in the car to drink or party.

Either way, the baby is dead. And the charges, or lack thereof are all over the map.

Mickey ,
Please don't judge me to harshly . I would be the first hood g 'ma to race you for 1st place ribbon ! JK
Toddlers are butt heads , if your lazy.
If you put the time into the children , they will still be the buttheads ..but more solid them's ,ya
know?
If your a parent you just dont do stupid like this , unless ya dont care.

 

[tlcya]

I started a thread for this one as well, will ask that they be merged.

FL - Scott Allen Gardner, Charged w Agg Manslaughter in Hot Car Death of 18 month old son, Sebastian, 6 June 2025

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1937649390811783676

 

[CalliopeMuse]

This is interesting, and similar comparison to the death of Parker Scholtes, in Marana, AZ. It will be interesting to see what happens here. And if he will be treated the same. Already, I notice the differences, this man was arrested immediately and taken away in handcuffs. That didn't seem to happen to Chris Scholtes.

FYI The boy died on June 6. The father was arrested about 2 weeks later. This NBC News article regarding the arrest was published on Monday 6/23, and describes the arrest as taking place on 'Thursday'. The immediate prior Thursday was 6/19.

Florida toddler died in hot car as dad went to bar; dad went back to bar after son's death, sheriff says

Scott Allen Gardner, 33, was arrested last week on charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect causing great bodily harm.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[ChatteringBirds]

. I personally think that leaving a baby in the car, because of going to work, is the same as leaving the baby in the car to go drinking is the same.

Parents who leave their child in a car to sit down and drink know they are responsible for their child and are purposely leaving them in the car, though. Most people who leave their child in the car while they work actually think their child was dropped off at daycare, though. IMO.

 

[Chimera]

What an adorable little boy.
Rest and fly with the angels, little Sebastian !

 

[PayrollNerd]

Parents who leave their child in a car to sit down and drink know they are responsible for their child and are purposely leaving them in the car, though. Most people who leave their child in the car while they work actually think their child was dropped off at daycare, though. IMO.

This was my thought too. Altho like has been mentioned, there's so many scenarios that give one pause as to was it intentional, or unintentional.

I actually wondered if it was his visitation time, no mention of Mom that I've seen, and he just didn't want to watch his son. He wanted to get a haircut and socialize in a bar, rather than get haircut and socialize with his son.

What was he thinking? Oh, I'll just park him in his car seat, kinda like I'll just park him in front of the TV?

 

[PayrollNerd]

Case: 2025 104282 CFDB
Scott Allen Gardner

LAURA E. ROTH - Clerk of the Circuit Court

 

[mickey2942]

Interesting how he is being treated so differently that Chris Scholtes. He was not arrested immediately. And last month, the judge allowed him to go on a vacation to Hawaii.

Same crime. Left child in car. Child died.

 

[tlcya]

OMG. so the timeline is as follows per the DM article linked above:

11:30am Gardner arrives at Classic Cuts with son in car with him. He exits car, leaves son strapped in car seat. Windows are cracked and some sort of portable feeble fan is running in the car

time? Haircut finished Gardner bypasses his car and crosses street to the Hanky Panky Lounge and drinks multiple beers and shots over the course of the next 3 hours.

2:40pm Gardner exits the Hanky Panky gets in his car and proceeds to drive to his mother's home where 911 is FINALLY called because not at all surprisingly little Sebastian is dead and has been for some time (note his mother is not present at the time)

Emergency crews rush Sebastian to hospital but it is far too late for any chance of resuscitation. His body temp was estimated at 111 degrees and his internal temp was over 107 degrees

time? (sometime later that afternoon) Gardner picks up his mother, who is still unaware her grandson is dead and her son is responsible, and proceeds to go back to the Hanky Panky to enjoy a few more alcoholic beverages with her

Just absolutely gross. The level of callous indifference, the selfishness, the self absorption. even AFTER THE FACT is just mind blowing.

I thought I was angry at Chris Scholtes. This guy here, just WTH, who in heaven left THIS idiot in charge of a baby?

 

[tlcya]

'No parent should ever have to experience the pain of losing a child,' the now-closed fundraiser reads. 'I hope they can find some comfort in the love and support surrounding them.'
Callousness of father who went drinking AFTER his son baked to death

at least the funding campaign has been pulled. In super poor taste that it was ever created IMO. as if little Sebastian just suddenly and unexpectedly passed and his poor daddy is grief stricken. Barf.

 

[mickey2942]

So Gardiner called 911? His child is in the hospital, dead, and then he picks up his mother and they go out drinking at the bar? Wow.

Just like that gal, Leilani Simon who killed her toddler, Quinton, who was missing, police were going through trash to find his body, and she and her mother were out drinking margaritas and doing tequila shots. She is in prison now.

Absolutely insane. I can't even wrap my head around it.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Interesting how he is being treated so differently that Chris Scholtes. He was not arrested immediately. And last month, the judge allowed him to go on a vacation to Hawaii.

Same crime. Left child in car. Child died.

Do you think the difference is due to AZ vs FL?

I wasn’t aware of the Scholtes case. Just popped over and briefly read a few posts. Sounds like a tremendous amount of neglectful parenting. Sitting your kid in the car for hours is parenting? Good grief. Tell me you don’t want you’re kid, without telling me you don’t want your kid!!