Georgia Mother Sentenced After 13-Month-Old Daughter Dies in Hot Car
NEWTON COUNTY, GEORGIA — A Georgia mother has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after her 13-month-old daughter died from extreme heat inside a parked car in 2023, according to the Newton County District Attorney’s Office.
Toddler Left in Hot Car for Nearly Five Hours
On October 10, 2023, Ariel Osbey, who was 29 at the time, left her daughter Imani inside a car while she worked as a cleaner at a Newton County residence.
Investigators said Osbey left the child unattended for nearly five hours in the vehicle before returning. When she came back to the car and began driving away, she noticed that Imani was unresponsive and immediately called 911.
First responders transported the baby to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Doctors found her internal body temperature was 107°F, confirming fatal heat exposure.
Police and Medical Findings
Emergency crews described the interior of the car as “extremely hot,” with hot air still blowing from the vents. The outside temperature that day was reported to be well above 85°F.
Authorities said Osbey initially told investigators that she had brought the child into the home while she worked, but surveillance footage revealed that she never left the residence during that time — proving the toddler had remained inside the vehicle.
Conviction and Sentencing
Osbey was convicted of second-degree murder and making a false statement to law enforcement. A Newton County judge sentenced her to 35 years, with the first 20 years to be served in prison.
Upon release, Osbey will be barred from having unsupervised contact with children under 16 and must also undergo mandatory mental health treatment as part of her probation terms.
Officials Warn Against the Dangers of Hot Cars
Officials stressed that this case serves as a devastating reminder of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles — even for short periods.
“Within minutes, the temperature inside a car can rise to deadly levels,” the District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “Parents and caregivers must remain vigilant. This tragedy could have been prevented.”
According to the National Safety Council, more than 30 children die each year in the United States from being left in hot cars, with body temperatures rising three to five times faster than adults.
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