Baby girl dies in hot car in Del City

DEL CITY, Okla. —A baby died Saturday afternoon after being left in a hot car, according to Del City police.

Del City police Maj. Jody Suit said investigators believe the baby’s mother was responsible for the child at the time. The mother is the person who called 911.

Officers found the baby when they were dispatched to a home in the 4600 block of Southeast 19th Street.

“They found the mother standing in the street with the child and she was very distraught,” Suit said.

The baby was a girl and 5 to 6 months old. Suit said the baby had been in a hot car parked in the driveway of the home.

Investigators are working to determine how the incident happened and the length of time the child was left alone.

“We do consider it a homicide, but it’s still under investigation,” Suit said.

No arrests have been made.

Charges could eventually be sought through the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office even if the case is ruled accidental. Suit said potential charges could range from child abuse to manslaughter.

The mother has been cooperating with investigators.

A family friend told KOCO 5 the mother has been so distraught she had not been able to eat until Monday.