CORDES LAKES, AZ — A 6-month-old child died Tuesday night after being left in a hot car in Cordes Lakes, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.
YCSO says they were called Tuesday around 9 p.m. to a report that a child was left in a car and was believed to be dead. Deputies responded and confirmed the child was beyond resuscitation efforts.
Cordes Lakes is north of the Valley along Interstate 17, southeast of Mayer.
During an investigation, authorities learned the child's mother asked a neighbor for a ride to Prescott Valley, along with the baby. On the way back to Cordes Lake the baby reportedly fell asleep in the car seat in the back seat of the neighbor's car.
Deputies say the mother asked the neighbor to drop the baby off with his father who would be home shortly. The neighbor arrived home at about 2 p.m., parked the car in the exposed sun and went into their house, claiming they forgot about the baby in the car.
At about 8:45 p.m., the father called the mother asking when the neighbor would deliver the baby to him.
At that time the mother called the neighbor who realized the baby was still in the car.
The neighbor and father ran to the car where they found the baby and attempted CPR while they called 911. Deputies say the baby was left strapped in the car for about seven hours before he was found.
On Thursday evening, YCSO announced the neighbor, identified only as a juvenile, was arrested and faces charges of negligent homicide.
The investigation has been turned over to the Yavapai County Attorney's Office.
Authorities initially identified the victim as an 8-month-old child but later corrected the age to six months.
