Florida residents Kathreen Adams and Christopher McLean are currently facing multiple charges following a terrible incident that claimed the life of their 2-year-old daughter.
Authorities claim that the young child, who had fallen asleep in her car seat, suffered terrible consequences as a result of her parents’ intentional abandonment of her there in the intense heat.
Law enforcement was forced to act due to the gravity of the situation, which resulted in the detention of Adams, 23, and McLean, 32, on suspicion of child neglect, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Holmes County Sheriff John Tate said it was likely the two would face additional charges.
The disturbing series of events began when a terrified woman dialed 911. The woman’s cries could be heard over the radio, but the 911 operator found it difficult to understand them because of how distressed the caller was.
In the Florida Panhandle’s hamlet of Prosperity, a deputy was sent to the house in response. To their horror, the deputy arrived and found someone carrying a 2-year-old who was unconscious.
The deputy quickly responded and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the child while he waited for emergency medical personnel to arrive. Sadly, despite all attempts to save her, the tiny child was tragically pronounced dead not long after.
Adams reported to the police that she had found her daughter unconscious inside of their house. The sheriff, however, had second thoughts after learning that the child’s alarming body temperature was 107 degrees, noting that “something wasn’t adding up.”. ”. ”.
The child had been left in the car for about 14 exhausting hours, law enforcement officials discovered as their investigation progressed. At some point, Adams admitted that she had gone to a relative’s home after her shift ended at midnight to pick up her 2-year-old and the child’s 4-year-old brother.
The infant was fast asleep in her car seat when they set off on their return trip with McLean. Unexpectedly, the parents decided to make the terrible choice of leaving their helpless child in the car alone while they went inside and eventually passed out.
They slept in until 3:41 p.m. m. m. the following day and were horrified to discover that their beloved child had been abandoned.
The sheriff went on to say that Adams had acknowledged intentionally leaving their young child in the car all night. McLean decided not to give a statement or interact with the police at that time due to his refusal to cooperate and assertion of his rights.
The sequence of events, including the moment the couple first saw the child and the moment they dialed 911 for help, varies as a result. According to Adams, the 4-year-old sibling had gotten out of the car and gone inside the house. Whether the younger child had ever ridden in the car is still a mystery. According to the sheriff, they were actively looking into this situation.
A depressing variety of illegal drugs were found by police when they searched the couple’s house. Methamphetamine, marijuana, CBD candies, and drug-related supplies were all included in the inventory. Adams said she and McLean had smoked marijuana after coming into the house.
Sheriff Tate firmly urged the neighborhood to refrain from using drugs when asked if he had a message for them. ”. He firmly believed that the boy’s tragic death was a result of using methamphetamine and other drugs, and he asserted that drug use frequently alters one’s perception of reality and has terrible repercussions.
In his stirring remarks, he stated, “That’s what happens when you use drugs—you lose the sense of what’s going on in reality, and this kind of stuff happens. We most likely wouldn’t be present at this moment if they weren’t abusing drugs.
The Department of Children and Families has been given custody of the 4-year-old sibling in light of these tragic events, and they will provide them with the care and support they need during this incredibly trying time.
In addition to working to bring justice to the untimely death of the innocent 2-year-old daughter, the authorities are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the child who is still alive.
