8-year-old girl dies after mother allegedly left her inside hot car to go to work

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - North Carolina authorities say a mother has been arrested following the death of her 8-year-old child who was left in a hot car.

Ashlee Stallings, 36, reportedly left her 8-year-old girl inside her vehicle while she went to work on Wednesday.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Stallings was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse by willful act causing serious injury.

Police said the child was left in the car at an Amazon Fulfillment Center near the airport that afternoon on what meteorologists reported being the hottest day of the year so far in the area.

Officers said the 8-year-old girl ended up going into cardiac arrest and they were called to the child’s location after the mother went to get help.

The girl was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but she did not survive.

“This is an incredibly tragic incident - during this difficult time, we’re supporting our employees and have made counseling resources widely available,” an Amazon spokesperson shared regarding the situation.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Stallings admitted she knew the temperature was 94 degrees outside and that she should not have left the child inside the car alone.

Stallings said she left the car running with the air on but believes the victim turned the air off because she was cold.

The affidavit states that Stallings returned to the vehicle approximately an hour and a half after last speaking to the victim through text to find her unresponsive in the back seat floorboard. Stallings then used a hammer to break the back window and found the victim taking shallow breaths and foaming from the mouth.

She drove toward the hospital and stopped at a business to call for help.

Police said their investigation continues while Stallings is being held under a $1 million bond.

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