# People who "forget" their babies in the car on a hot day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 20, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248 "2014-06-20T22:47:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/301 "2014-07-03T22:09:39Z")
Thanks for the explanations of life insurance for kids. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/302 "2014-07-03T22:13:12Z")
> [@Kasper1014](#): > > The detective also raised some points about the wife’s behavior in his testimony. He said that employees at the day care center said that when she went to pick up her son and was told her husband hadn’t drop off Cooper that morning, she said moments later, “Ross must have left him in the car.” Everything about this turns my stomach, but for some reason, this chills me to the bone. I wish the both of them would be welded into a hot car in the middle of Nevada during August and have people that love them, come by to point and laugh as they die. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/303 "2014-07-03T22:24:14Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > Everything about this turns my stomach, but for some reason, this chills me to the bone. I wish the both of them would be welded into a hot car in the middle of Nevada during August and have people that love them, come by to point and laugh as they die. She also asked him if had “said too much” to the police. ---
**Author:** ![Kasper1014](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c89c15/32.png) [@Kasper1014](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kasper1014)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/304 "2014-07-03T23:38:07Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > [Moderation] > Thanks, we’d appreciate it. > > A short representative quote, followed by a link to the original, would also be acceptable. > [/Moderating] I’ll be totally compliant next time! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/305 "2014-07-04T17:35:02Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > I wish the both of them would be welded into a hot car in the middle of Nevada … Fuck that! We don’t want them, dead or alive. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/306 "2014-07-05T16:07:17Z")
My wife and I had a third child some years after our first two. One evening in early September, about two weeks after daddy’s little bonus came along, we went out to a small pizza place. The usual four of us piled out of the car and all of us closed our doors. I took about two steps away from the car and then realized little #3 had been left behind. She probably was locked in the car by herself for about five seconds, but I can see how one could forget. That frightened us into greater awareness and we never forgot again. She’s now working at a great summer job before her last semester of graduate school. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/307 "2014-07-05T18:58:32Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > That frightened us into greater awareness and we never forgot again. She’s now working at a great summer job before her last semester of graduate school. That’s like the time I wrote about upthread, when we forgot to fasten the boychik’s 5-point strap on his carseat when he was about 5 months old. “[F]rightened us into greater awareness” is a good way to put it. I hope I’m not being lumped in with those people who claim that they would _ **never** _ do such a thing. I had a routine for putting my son in his seat after strap incident, and my husband and I had a rule that the person who carried him out of the house did the whole carseat routine-- we didn’t hand him off so a step wouldn’t get skipped. I don’t think any of that made us superior. It was done in all humility and in recognition of how easy it was to make a mistake. I don’t actually know that any of those things got our son to his 7th birthday, or were just little lucky charms that made us feel better. I wish I’d thought of that rubber band thing. One thing that may have helped us was the fact that we had two cars, one with working AC, and one without. If you had the baby, you had the car with AC (it was also newer and safer). So the fact that you were driving the “baby car” may have helped remember the baby. We also never had set routines, because I was a SAHM for the boychik’s first year, so neither of us was ever in the position in which this frequently happens-- adding a baby to an automatic routine. We were just lucky that we had circumstances not conducive to leaving the baby in the car, and a little jolt once to remind us to be extra careful. Lucky, not uber-parents. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/308 "2014-09-04T20:21:29Z")
[Justin Harris indicted by a grand jury on eight counts: malice murder, two counts of felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children, second-degree cruelty to children, criminal attempt to commit a felony (sexual exploitation of a minor) and two counts of dissemination of harmful material to minors.](http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/04/justice/hot-car-death-ross-harris-grand-jury/) Decision whether or not to seek the death penalty for the Georgia baby botherer is expected by the end of the month. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/309 "2014-09-04T20:58:45Z")
Stomach-turning all over again. And now with added pedophilia! ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/310 "2014-09-04T21:19:01Z")
“Baby botherer”? that sounds like when I annoy my son by repeating everything he says. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/311 "2014-09-04T21:43:40Z")
[Here’s a new one from yesterday.](http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/maryland/2014/09/03/infant-found-dead-in-vehicle-in-md/15039415/) > [@](#): > > PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (WUSA9) – The father of an infant who was found dead in a vehicle at a Maryland Naval Air Station on Wednesday has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. > > John Junek’s family – including the baby’s mother – all stood beside him at a brief appearance in federal court. A judge ordered him released to the custody of his parents. But the judge was concerned about the gun NCIS agents found on his nightstand with a single round in the chamber. He also told the parents they would have to get rid of the firearms in their home if they want Junek to stay with them pending trial. > > Court documents from the US District Court of the District of Maryland in Greenbelt show that 40-year-old John Macdonald Junek has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of his infant son. If he is found guilty of the charge, Junek faces up to 8 years in prison. > > According to the criminal complaint, the infant was found in a vehicle at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River at about 3:25 p.m. Wednesday. Junek works at the base. > > Junek had taken his four-year-old son to pre-school earlier that morning and was supposed to drop off his infant son at the Child Development Center on NAS Patuxent River, according to the complaint. Junek said he drove to the base and went to his office at approximately 8:50 a.m. The infant was still in his car seat in the locked vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/312 "2016-12-05T19:51:24Z")
> [@](#): > > A Georgia father who was found guilty last month in the 2014 death of his son in a hot car was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 32 years Monday. > > Justin Ross Harris, 35, had been indicted on eight counts in connection with the June 18, 2014, heat-stroke death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper. After more than a month of testimony and four days of deliberations, a Glynn County jury found Harris guilty on all charges Nov. 14. > **[Georgia hot-car dad sentenced to life without parole](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/12/05/atlanta-hot-car-dad-sentence/95003926/)** > > Justin Ross Harris was convicted in November in connection with the heat-stroke death of his son. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/313 "2016-12-05T20:03:08Z")
Man, what a tragic topic. From what I’ve read, this is usually the same kind of forgetfulness that leads one to misplace their wallet, or leave their keys in the car, just with catastrophic consequences. And I feel really bad for these folks. Unlike many, I’m incredibly careful about my things like wallet, keys, glasses, etc., and panic in the moments when I think they’re misplaced (like when I shift my wallet to my front pocket for some reason). But even as careful as I am, I still sometimes misplace my things (very rarely – like once every year or two). Even a careful and loving parent might, just once, forget that their sleeping baby is in the backseat. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/314 "2016-12-05T20:08:17Z")
Except this guy didn’t just forget. He killed his kid. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/315 "2016-12-05T20:09:59Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Except this guy didn’t just forget. He killed his kid. I’m just commenting on the topic in general, not any specific cases. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/316 "2016-12-05T20:11:17Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Man, what a tragic topic. From what I’ve read, this is usually the same kind of forgetfulness that leads one to misplace their wallet, or leave their keys in the car, just with catastrophic consequences. > > And I feel really bad for these folks. Unlike many, I’m incredibly careful about my things like wallet, keys, glasses, etc., and panic in the moments when I think they’re misplaced (like when I shift my wallet to my front pocket for some reason). But even as careful as I am, I still sometimes misplace my things (very rarely – like once every year or two). Even a careful and loving parent might, just once, forget that their sleeping baby is in the backseat. The problem is this could also happen to a careful and loving caregiver, nanny, babysitter, family friend, etc., (especially an overworked nanny or caregiver), but few people have sympathy for them. Instead, American society and a good many Dopers would be clamoring for them to be charged with murder or manslaughter at the least. There shouldn’t be a difference just because its the parents. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/317 "2016-12-05T22:58:23Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > The problem is this could also happen to a careful and loving caregiver, nanny, babysitter, family friend, etc., (especially an overworked nanny or caregiver), but few people have sympathy for them. Instead, American society and a good many Dopers would be clamoring for them to be charged with murder or manslaughter at the least. There shouldn’t be a difference just because its the parents. The difference is that if it was not deliberate, then there is already a degree of punishment for the parent, _who has lost their child_. Additional punishment might not provide any greater degree of justice. This is not the case for the caregiver or nanny, who is more likely to be seen as getting away with no punishment at all if there is no judicial punishment. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/318 "2016-12-06T03:59:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Except this guy didn’t just forget. He killed his kid. How well do you know this case? Yes, he was found guilty. I have followed the case in great depth and believe that Harris was convicted because he is a slimeball (sexting underage girls; liaisons with prostitutes) rather than there was convincing evidence that he deliberately killed his son. ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/319 "2016-12-06T05:30:00Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > How well do you know this case? Yes, he was found guilty. I have followed the case in great depth and believe that Harris was convicted because he is a slimeball (sexting underage girls; liaisons with prostitutes) rather than there was convincing evidence that he deliberately killed his son. The guy is a hooker visiting, teen sexting, pedophile sleazeball. We agree on that. He also YouTube’d a video about hot car deaths. He saw the distress that it causes and still inflict d it on his child. He visited his car with his dying or nearly dead child inside at least once and claims he didn’t remember. I don’t buy it and neither does the jury. And really, I’m pretty sure I could make the mistake of leaving a sleeping baby in a car. I understand how it can happen and I feel so much sorrow for the people involved. Just not in these really damning circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2016, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248/320 "2016-12-06T05:31:34Z")
I know it well enough. I read the news. Are you saying he was innocent? Because that’s not the way the story reads to me. His car smelled of death and he drove for miles before pulling over. Fuck that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-forget-their-babies-in-the-car-on-a-hot-day/691248.md?page=17)