The worst part, is that I can remember hearing stories simular to that multiple times over the past decade.

Sleep deprived. I remember just sitting and crying at night because I was so so so tired. I'd never been so tired in all my life.

It's a terribly sad story and my heart goes out to the parents, because I believe things like that can happen and do. It's not like the parent who locks a child in a car so they can go to a casino or drink or hook up with a lover.

When I was a single mom, I had a demanding job, and mornings with two toddlers were surreal as I got them fed, dressed, and off to a sitter before I drove to work in the dark, early morning hours. Sometimes they fell asleep in the car in the back seat and one morning I pulled into my space in the plant parking lot and realised they were still in the back, asleep. I immediately pulled out, went clear back in to town and dropped them off, and of course was late for work. And, it was a routine I did every day, five days a week. If I had not noticed them in there, would I have remembered I hadn't stopped at the sitters? Oh God, I hope so. Would they have the forethought to have unlocked the door and opened it and asked for help? I dunno, when a child is scared would they have?

I wonder, in this case, how many people walked past that car with a baby alone in it, and never reported it, because it was none of their business?

And, as far as punishing the father, what purpose would it serve? I imagine he'll be haunted by it forever.

"It's not like the parent who locks a child in a car so they can go to a casino or drink or hook up with a lover."

That reminds me Suzy. When Ed worked at the women's prison here in Nashville, he was counseling a woman who did just that. Put them in the car on a hot summer night here in the south, went inside to play video games and hook up with her lover, never checking on them. When he asked her if she was sad they were gone, her reply was something to the effect of nope, I can always make more. Chilling. Incredibly horrifying.

I second your thoughts on the dad. I wonder what will become of him, not legally, but as a parent/husband. Poor poor guy.

Just seeing the title of this post made me shudder. An almost identical incident was reported locally, just a few months ago.

As for the immediate cause, sleep deprivation or exhaustion or just plain forgetfulness could easily have hit the parent at a vital time.

What still amazes me is that NO ONE reported a child left alone in the car! And the following thought is to wonder why the caretaker didn't notify anyone earlier? I suspect the mother immediately went to the carpark, which indicates she wasn't notified of the no-show until late afternoon. When GS was small, the daycare center had a 30-minute wait policy; that is, he was expected to be there within 30 minutes of a given time. If the parent didn't call regarding a no-show or tardiness there was a $100 surcharge -- believe me, that's the kind of fee that helps the harried parent remember to call! And it now occurs to me that there is a major safety element in that policy... someone would have started a search long before the forgotten child was at risk.