Dead baby discovered in P&G parking lot was employee's child, authorities say

MASON, Ohio -- A baby girl left in a vehicle in the Procter & Gamble parking lot in Mason died Wednesday afternoon.

Warren County Coroner's Office investigator Doyle Burke said the baby's mother, a P&G employee, left her child unattended in the car all day. She called fire crews around 5 p.m. to report that the child was no longer breathing. By the time crews arrived, the baby, a 15-month-old girl, was dead in the back seat.

Although a medical examination of the body has not yet been performed, police believe the death was the result of heat inside the vehicle.

"Certainly a 15-month-old is more susceptible to something like this than an adult," Burke said. "Any time something happens like this, it's preventable. It's a wakeup call to anyone who has children: Just be careful."

The mother's identity has not yet been released.

"We are aware of a tragic accident that took place on the campus of P&G’s Mason Business Center earlier today," P&G said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected family. We are providing our full support and cooperating with local officials."