Little Rock daycare owner faces murder charge after allegedly leaving infant in hot car

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- Investigators with the Little Rock Police Department say a Little Rock daycare owner was arrested Wednesday after an infant died in a hot vehicle.

According to the police report, officers responded to a call Wednesday afternoon to help with an unresponsive infant.

First responders told investigators the infant was left inside a vehicle for more than 8 hours.

According to the report, 62- year-old Hope Jones told officers the child was found inside her vehicle after she had left him inside after picking him up at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday.

Jones told investigators she picked up the infant from his foster mother and drove him to the daycare she owns.

According to investigators, Jones said she got distracted when she got to work and left the baby inside the car seat in her pickup. In the report, Jones told police she somehow overlooked the infant during the children’s headcount and did not remember if he was on the absence list.

Jones told authorities she went to show her vehicle to a coworker at the end of the workday when she found the child motionless in the car seat.

According to the report, Jones brought the child inside to try and resuscitate him.

Police say the child was pronounced dead soon after first responders arrived, and his body temperature was 110 degrees.

According to court officials, 62-year-old Hope Jones appeared in Little Rock District Court, where a judge set her bond at $15,000.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 9.

An official with the Pulaski County Sherriff’s Office confirmed Thursday that Jones was released after paying bond.

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