Florida mother arrested after 2-year-old dies in hot car
A Florida woman has been arrested after her 2-year-old child was found dead in a car on Wednesday.
Jessica Monell, 36, was taken into custody by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. She’s charged with homicide-neglect manslaughter, neglect of a child, three counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug equipment.
According to the Pensacola News Journal, Monell came home to the Aqua Porta Apartments around 6 a.m. Wednesday morning. Deputies said she left her 2-year-old, Joy Monell, in the car while she went inside and fell asleep.
Deputies said Monell woke up around 4 p.m. and the child was already dead.
“She got home and went inside to sleep. She forgot her kid was left in the car. The poor child had to sit in the car for over eight hours in the heat,” said Maj. Andrew Hobbs with the sheriff’s office.
The inside of the vehicle could have reached "at least 130” degrees, according to Jan Null, an adjunct professor in the San Jose State Department of Meteorology and Climate Science.
Authorities reportedly found drugs in Monell’s apartment including Xanax and crystal meth.
Monell was booked without bond into the Escambia County Jail.