Four days after a boy was found deceased in a hot day care van, authorities are now looking at it as a possible crime.
As Dearly previously reported, 2-year-old Noah Sneed was found unconscious in the day care van by an employee of Ceressa’s Daycare and Preschool in Oakland Park, Florida.
According to the initial press release from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Sneed was discovered around 3:30 p.m. on July 20:
Around 3:30 p.m. July 29, BSO Communications received the call asking for medical assistance at the Ceressa’s Daycare and Preschool located at 3140 N.W. 21st Ave. in Oakland Park. When BSO deputies and Oakland Park Fire Rescue arrived, they confirmed the toddler was deceased. […] Detectives confirmed the toddler had been transported in the van to the facility Monday morning.
Now, as the investigation continues, the Orlando Sentinel reports that authorities are now reportedly looking at Sneed’s death as if it were manslaughter. According to reports, authorities labeling it as such on search warrants that were filed this week.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, “a person can be convicted of manslaughter of a child if prosecutors can prove the death resulted from an act of ‘culpable negligence,’ under Florida Law.”
However, it remains unclear if police have any possible suspects in this particular case.
Broward County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion said of Sneed’s passing earlier this week:
“Whether you’re a parent or not, I’m sure you can imagine what it would be like to receive devastating news such as this. […] You would think that any facility that deals with children, especially young children, would have some kind of checks and balances or some kind of system. Unfortunately, it’s not the first time that we’ve heard of a case like this happening. These tragedies continue to happen.”
And as Sneed’s mother, Chanese Sneed, told the Sentinel during a vigil for her son, “I just want justice for my baby, that’s all.”
Sneed’s family described her son as “foud, loving and full of laughter.” Chanese added:
“I miss my baby. He was the happiest thing ever.”
Noah is the 24th child overall in 2019 to have died in a hot car, as Kids and Cars reports, after a total of 52 children died in 2018.
A GoFundMe campaign for Noah’s family is currently collecting donations to help with funeral expenses.
