Pierre infant dies after left in vehicle for hours

By LETA NOLAN CHILDERS
Capital Journal Staff


Authorities are investigating the death of a 13-month-old infant who was left in a vehicle Friday afternoon for several hours.

An autopsy on the child was scheduled for Monday in Rapid City to determine the cause of death, though authorities believe it was because of over-exposure.

The child is the son of Lee Jay and Brooke Templeton, Pierre.

According to law enforcement sources, on Friday, LeeJay Templeton attended a picnic

lunch at his wife’s place of employment and took their son with him. He was in charge of taking his son back to day care, but for one reason or another forgot that the child was in the vehicle.

When Brooke Templeton later attempted to pick up her son at day care, she discovered that he hadn’t been dropped off. She called her husband who rushed to their car and found the baby.

According to Tom Maher, Stanley County State’s Attorney, the child was taken to St. Mary’s Healthcare Center where he was pronounced dead.

The Stanley County Sheriff’s Office and the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation are in charge of the homicide investigation.

“Generally, a homicide is a killing of one person by another, and can be intentionally, recklessly or negligently,” said Maher. “Murder is an intentional killing; manslaughter is unintentional.”

Temperatures that afternoon, according to the National Weather Service were in the low to mid 90s but with a high dewpoint making it feel much hotter than it actually was.