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Question

I believe the father IS to blame and should be held legally accountable; involuntary manslaughter at least. I can't believe the woman didn't leave him. What do you think?

I'm a father. I would never forget my child in the car. This guys baby died from neglect. If he left her in her room with an open window in the window and she died of hypothermia he'd be charged. So what's the difference?

Answer 1

I think it was an accident. I dont think it makes him a bad father. He was likely extremely sleep deprived from having a newborn, plus, his wife had just gone back to work, so he wasnt used to having to drop the baby off. It is likely that the baby fell asleep on the ride over and he didnt even think about it. It is horrible, but it happens. I think it is extremely sad and scary for any parent to read, because the truth is, babies die like this every day. Maybe not in the carseat, but also by rolling off the bed, by choking on something that they got their hands on, by crawling out of an open window, falling down the stairs, etc...NONE OF US are immune. I think to bash the father is easy and it makes us feel safe, saying "this guy was a bad father and I am a good father, so it won't happen to me," but NO parent can say they have never done anything that could have killed their child (has your child NEVER put anything in his/her mouth that could have choked them? of course they have. Has your child never been left on a changing table for half a second, when they could have rolled off and broke their neck, of course they have,) these are just some examples. My point is it is a mistake that really could happen to anybody - it doesnt make him a bad father. It was an accident. If we threw people in jail for accidents like that, we would all be in jail! Just because we haven't had our children die from a stupid mistake and his did does not make him a bad parent and us okay. There is no way to keep your kids completely safe, but God willing nothing awful happens. Sometimes it does. I feel terrible for this poor family. Bashing the guy just makes it worse.

Answer 2

I think any action the law would have taken against him would be nothing compared to facing himself every morning and blaming himself. I dont think their would be any point in him being placed in jail or anything else. It isnt like he is a criminal we are trying to reform, he made a terrible mistake, one most of us could never imagine making, but it was a mistake.

I have never forgotten my child in the car while I went to work, or anywhere else for that matter, however there were a few times, more than a handful, where I hopped on the freeway and then realized 1/2 way to work that I hadnt taken him to daycare, he was so quiet I hadn't heard anything in the back seat and was focused on the crazy morning traffic and every thing else that it didnt even register.

I think what happened was awful, and I think that there is no excuse for what he did, he was negligent, but what this man has done to himself is far worse than what the law could ever do.

Answer 3

I read this and started to cry, then I went upstairs and checked on my two little babies. My thoughts and prayers go out to this family. Yes, it is hard to imagine forgetting your child anywhere. I am sure that the pain and suffering that this man will have for the rest of his life will be unbelievable. I hope that they can survive this tradegy and stay united as a family. From what I understand there are other children in this family as well. I think that people are just too caught up in the craziness of the world today, cell phones, dvd players, etc in cars nowadays. When I am driving with my little ones, I always sing with them and I keep singing and talking to them, even if they fall asleep.

Answer 4

I've done it. I will never forget the day when my first child was in the car in her car seat asleep. I was driving in the city on a hot day and had no air conditioning. Traffic got bad, so I took some side streets to keep some air blowing. I turned down this one street and outside of the door of a corner store were a couple of barrels with ice cold sodas in them. I parked the car, ran into the store, grab a soda, looked around for some chips and it dawned on me, "MY BABY". I was shaken for a month. I begged my wife's forgiveness. My baby did not die. She didn't even wake up to know that I had stopped. She was about one month.

It happened, because it wasn't in the routine. I still don't excuse myself, because my mind quickly reminds me of what could have happened. Thank God it didn't.

Trust me, you don't need to hate on this man. He's doing a good enough job himself.

And no, his wife should not leave him. It's a pain that they both have to work through together.

Answer 5

I am speechless after reading that story...It made me cry. How incredibly awful. I do not understand how he could have forgotten his baby in the car...I just do not get it. As far as charges being pressed against him...I don't thing anything could ever be as bad as the guilt and pain that man will have to live with for the rest of his life. Honestly, as a mom I do not think i would have been able to stay married to him.

Answer 6

This happens everyday. People get into a routine of life & sometimes can't adapt to a new one, such as having their sleeping child in the car, not making a peep (which i can understand why they may forget about their own child). people with hectic lifestyles can FORGET about things. even if it's the most important thing in the world.

& yes, their biggest punishment is living with the guilt for the rest of their life. what is prison going to do for someone who did a accident such as this?

Answer 7

at the end of that story my stomach hurts...its an awful thing to happen. and didn't need to. how can anyone forget their baby in the car? i can't imagine what she is thinking staying with her husband. and she doesn't even say anything about what happened to him. child neglect or child abuse..something.

Answer 8

I dont care how hetic everyday life gets, I would NEVER forget my child alone in a car at any given time.How could anyone forget something so precious?