Hammond man arrested for murder after toddler dies in hot car
Deputies say 21-month-old girl was left in vehicle for more than 9 hours
MADISONVILLE, La. (WVUE) – A Hammond-area man is facing a second-degree murder charge after authorities say he left his 21-month-old daughter in a hot car for more than nine hours on Sunday (June 9), leading to her death.
Joseph Boatman, 35, was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center after St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call just before noon at a Madisonville-area residence. A family member had found the child unresponsive inside a parked vehicle.
Detectives say Boatman picked up his daughter from a family member around 2:30 a.m. Sunday and strapped her into her car seat inside the vehicle. Instead of removing her from the car upon arriving at the residence, investigators say he went inside and never returned.
Officials say that Boatman reportedly consumed several alcoholic beverages before retrieving the child.
“This is a devastating loss that no family ever wants to face,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “When a child is left in a vehicle, especially on a day when the heat index climbs over 100 degrees, the outcome can turn deadly in a matter of minutes. This case involved compromised judgment, and the result was heartbreaking.”
The St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office is expected to conduct an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.