[crazygambit]

Of course you could easily think of some mandatory device for all new cars that combines a CO2 sensor with a temperature sensor and a sensor that determines if the car is moving. The question though is if people would be willing to pay an extra amount of let's say $50 for a new car. My guess is that most people don't want to pay that amount for potentially saving someone else's baby (or dog).

Much simpler than that. You just need a sensor to detect the weight of a baby in a car seat when the engine stops. Third party solutions have already been designed and would be relatively cheap.

Liability issues and the fact that it wouldn't sell since no one thinks it can happen to them (as can be seen in this thread) means it's never getting built.

Also sorry for the double post.

[Srsly]

People do really dumb things when they're extremely tired. I know I do. Even the most routine tasks are forgotten about. I'm glad she isn't being charged.

[skinnyrattler]

Pretty outrageous they aren't charging the mom.

How much more you want to punish them?

I know it sounds bad from the story but as a parent, you can easily lose track or forget. And the idea that she has to go home now and mourn this is punishment enough. And punishing her will do absolutely nothing to curb this type of oversight. Is taking her away from her family going to do anything?

What really needs to happen is an accessory to automobiles. You can sign up for it voluntarily. But it should be able to detect noise or something in the car. Make the car alarm go off, text message to a bunch of phones, something. Anything. I would hate to be in that house the week after.

Much simpler than that. You just need a sensor to detect the weight of a baby in a car seat when the engine stops. Third party solutions have already been designed and would be relatively cheap. Liability issues and the fact that it wouldn't sell since no one thinks it can happen to them (as can be seen in this thread) means it's never getting built. Also sorry for the double post.

This is the biggest reason. Because people can sue and get a ton of money, it'll never happen. Saw a lawsuit where a couple got $72 million for their kid that got cerebral palsy.

[Devolution]

All of the people who want to throw her in prison, do you think you're protecting the other child or stripping him of a mother?

[Plywood]

Horrible mistake but I can see it happening to an otherwise responsible parent under extreme situations of stress or sleep deprivation. Who knows how many countless times it almost happens to a parent, and they run back to the car halfway after they get halfway down the sidewalk or something. In this case, unfortunately, it didn't. I don't see what purpose punishing her with the law would serve. She'll be punishing herself enough for the rest of her life.

Absolutely agree.

[daw840]

All of the people who want to throw her in prison, do you think you're protecting the other child or stripping him of a mother?

I know this question isn't directed at me, since I don't think we need to charge her, but unfortunately I think she will likely take herself away from the other child. She will never be the same mother he had.

:(

[Snkfanatic]

So sad...normally I would be quick to jump and say they should charge them but I don't know if I can agree with that after reading that article....

Hitler was fatigued and depressed after leaving art school. It is not his fault that his brain shut down and he killed millions of people. Any punishment society gives him won't compare to how he punishes himself.

Damn you have to be joking...please tell me you are joking

EDIT: holy crap there are some youtube quality comments going on in here...some people on gaf are really really scary

[Alucrid]

Hitler was fatigued and depressed after leaving art school. It is not his fault that his brain shut down and he killed millions of people. Any punishment society gives him won't compare to how he punishes himself.

Aww...shit

no you didn't

yes you did


hell naw

[Tangeroo]

All of the people who want to throw her in prison, do you think you're protecting the other child or stripping him of a mother?

I'll answer this one even though I don't think she needs to be put in prison necessarily. I think she needs to be put on suicide watch and psychiatric evaluation. I don't think she was crazy prior to this event but this may have pushed her over the edge and I don't think putting her in immediate contact with her current child is a good idea until she's checked out. It wouldn't be good if she commits suicide in their home because it would be too "cruel" to keep her from her other child.

[To Far Away Times]

No punishment necessary. If there was no intent, then the mother has suffered enough already. Nothing beneficial would come from throwing her in jail.

[Aesius]

I simply can't imagine what she's going through. That has got to be the most extreme amount of anguish that a single human being can feel.

She needs support and years and years of therapy, not a fucking jail sentence, FFS.

[Artanisix]

ITT people coming to wrong conclusions when they don't have their own kids/haven't had to take care of a person's kid for extended periods of time

You don't know how hard that shit is on you.

[Hamplin]

All of the people who want to throw her in prison, do you think you're protecting the other child or stripping him of a mother?

Neither. It's a crime and should therefore be handled by the book.

[Devolution]

Neither. It's a crime and should be handled by the book.

So you think grey doesn't exist.

[Gildor]

I understand how this can happen. I accidentally left my baby daughter in the car before when going to the grocery. I got out of the car, locked the doors, walked half of the parking lot before I realized it and went back to get her. I felt awful thinking about what would happen if I hadn't realized it. Her baby seat is rear facing and it's always in the car so it looks the same from the front whether she is there or not. I guess my mind was somewhere else and just reverted back to my routine from before I had a kid.

Hopefully, someone will read this story and it will make them more conscious of this possibility, thus preventing it from happening again.

[oneils]

Doesn't it say 613 since 1991?

Yeah. I am pretty sure it is not 600 a year. I think he read that wrong.

[Hamplin]

So you think grey doesn't exist.

This IS manslaughter. There's a lot of gray when it comes to causing someone else's death, that is why that term even exists. Sentence may vary within this gray area but make no mistake, it is a crime, one oftenly given some time in jail. What makes you think you can even debate this? You propose to bypass the law based on individual circumstances? The law doesn't work that way, neither should it.

[SnakeswithLasers]

Neither. It's a crime and should therefore be handled by the book.

This statement is lunacy.

This IS manslaughter. There's a lot of gray when it comes to causing someone else's death, that is why that term even exists. Sentence may vary within this gray area but make no mistake, it is a crime, one oftenly given some time in jail. What makes you think you can even debate this? You propose to bypass the law based on individual circumstances? The law doesn't work that way, neither should it.

No, it isn't. If it was, they would pursue it. This is an accidental death. Stop being a myopic dumbass.

[HyperBitHero]

Oh shit, son!

[Warm Machine]

Yeah, get a child of your own and then comment. From the outside looking in it seems like an unfathomable scenario. A child brings in a whole level of thought that you are not prepared to take on.

Before I had my boy I've had 30 years of passenger and driver conditioning where I could step out of a vehicle and not need to think about any responsibility.

Now, everytime I need to be cogniscent if he is back there or not. Even if I know he isn't in the car I still check. He could be sound asleep and when that is happening it is really easy to simply forget he is even in the car which is why checking in incredibly important.

[heliosRAzi]

She needs support and years and years of therapy, not a fucking jail sentence, FFS.

This.

I can't believe people want to throw her in jail.

[Ferrio]

This IS manslaughter. There's a lot of gray when it comes to causing someone else's death, that is why that term even exists. Sentence may vary within this gray area but make no mistake, it is a crime, one oftenly given some time in jail. What makes you think you can even debate this? You propose to bypass the law based on individual circumstances? The law doesn't work that way, neither should it.

My friend hydroplaned into another lane, smashed into a car. The driver of the other car was killed. It was deemed an accident and no charges were pressed. Sometimes shit happens, and no point ruining two lives because of it. He did have to go to therapy for quite awhile cause it tore him up mentally pretty badly.

[Baconsammy]

This. I can't believe people want to throw her in jail.

And I don't believe people think there shouldn't at the very least be a trial by her peers. By her own actions a child died.

My friend hydroplaned into another lane, smashed into a car. The driver of the other car was killed. It was deemed an accident and no charges were pressed. Sometimes shit happens, and no point ruining two lives because of it. He did have to go to therapy for quite awhile cause it tore him up mentally pretty badly.

An act of God and simply forgetting your baby is in the car on a hot day are two completely different things.

[Loofy]

If it was a dog left in the car it would of caused a bigger shitstorm from what i've seen in the past.

You know it.

[Ferrio]

And I don't believe people think there shouldn't at the very least be a trial by her peers. By her own actions a child died.

For what crime? For a trial to happen there needs to be a crime. There was no crime, this was an accident. A horrible life altering accident, but not a crime.

[Hamplin]

My friend hydroplaned into another lane, smashed into a car. The driver of the other car was killed. It was deemed an accident and no charges were pressed. Sometimes shit happens, and no point ruining two lives because of it. He did have to go to therapy for quite awhile cause it tore him up mentally pretty badly.

I would also deem that as an accident. Some situations are easily dismissed as such, the OP's story is not one of these situations.

[heliosRAzi]

And I don't believe people think there shouldn't at the very least be a trial by her peers. By her own actions a child died.

Well, the district attorney will determine if she goes to trial or not, but since she wasn't immediately arrested afterward, I don't think she is going to.

This was a tragic accident and losing her child and the mental anguish she is currently going through is enough punishment.

An act of God and simply forgetting your baby is in the car on a hot day are two completely different things.

Did you read that WaPo article? This kind of thing happens to everybody and it ranges from cellphones to babies. It even happened to a memory expert.

[daw840]

I would also deem that as an accident. Some situations are easily dismissed as such, the OP's story is not one of these situations.

How about this then. Let's say I am walking with my child in my arms. There is a rock laying on the sidewalk, I trip and my child's head impacts the pavement killing her. Should I be charged with manslaughter because I should have been aware of obstacles in my chosen walking path?

[Loofy]

Did you read that WaPo article? This kind of thing happens to everybody and it ranges from cellphones to babies. It even happened to a memory expert.

And thats something that can be decided, by an expert. During trial.

Thats what happened in prior cases so why not here?
http://www.wdrb.com/story/14694449/m...ed-with-murder

[EYEL1NER]

Hitler was fatigued and depressed after leaving art school. It is not his fault that his brain shut down and he killed millions of people. Any punishment society gives him won't compare to how he punishes himself.

Dumbest fucking thing I've read on GAF in probably months...



I've never heard of anything like this and am surprised it's a thing, so much of a thing that steps have been created for parents to take to prevent it.
But I guess I could totally see how it could happen. I've been pretty sleep deprived before and know how I have felt. I know how much I beat myself up for forgetting to lock my front door once and my daughter woke up from a nap and went outside. I can't even imagine how wrecked this woman is. Truly a shirty and tragic thing to have happen.

And I am in the 'don't charge her' camp (if the investigation continues to not turn up anything showing negligence or malicious intent, of course).

[Hamplin]

How about this then. Let's say I am walking with my child in my arms. There is a rock laying on the sidewalk, I trip and my child's head impacts the pavement killing her. Should I be charged with manslaughter because I should have been aware of obstacles in my chosen walking path?

You are then at the mercy of your enviroment, just as with the hydroplaning car, unable to impact following outcome. Not manslaughter.

Another thing, I'm not arguing for her going to jail out of spite.
I only wish for everyone to stand equal under the justice system.

[Cubsfan23]

The fact that she thought he was at day-care, and the timeline supports that, is what is saving her.

It is a good point though that if it had been somebody's else's kid, no doubt charges would be filed.

[elcapitan]

That WaPo story is amazing. People should definitely read it. "Accident" is really an imperfect word for it.

It's hard to imagine it happening to yourself, which is why the piece is so good.

[kinggroin]

I simply can't imagine what she's going through. That has got to be the most extreme amount of anguish that a single human being can feel. She needs support and years and years of therapy, not a fucking jail sentence, FFS.

As a parent of three, this.

So fucking much, THIS.

The very thought of something similar happening to me, easily brings me to tears.

[Conciliator]

Yeah this is really sad, and yeah I agree with OP. I know my brain, and my brain could do something like this(locked my keys in the car with the engine on the other day), so I'm very sympathetic. This is a stupid, negligent mistake, but everyone makes stupid negligent mistakes. Most people are fortunate enough for the consequences of those mistakes to be relatively minor. Some people are less lucky. Hope she can mentally recover someday.

[TheSeks]

Pretty outrageous they aren't charging the mom.

Why? The mother didn't intend to kill her child. She simply forgot. Stupid, yes. Accident, definitely. Manslaughter? No.

[Angry Fork]

Pretty outrageous they aren't charging the mom.

Everyone ganged up on this post but I think it's just a case of not reading the entire story and just the headline + first sentences. It seems this was a legit horrible accident and she isn't sketchy or anything.

[Juancho9]

Yup, giant middle finger to people wanting to charge the mother.

[ConsumerSquare]

The rush to excuse this by other parents is startling to me. There are 4 million babies born in the US each year, but just over 600 cases of this type of accident. Those aren't "this could happen to any of you!" numbers. I don't know if a crime was committed, but it isn't wrong to see this as inexcusable. Yeah, yeah I'm not a parent so I can't relate, and I don't have an opinion one way or the other regarding criminal charges, but I like to think that if I ever do have kid, he'll routinely rank up there with the dog, my laptop, and chocolate on the Shit Not to Leave in the Car on a Hot Day list.

[Kai Dracon]

It seems some people see the purpose of the law as punishing anything that happens because a person was involved in it, whether accidental or not. To serve some abstract concept of "justice".

But that makes no sense when you take it apart.

People who aren't parents can call this woman an idiot, but no matter how horrifying, an accident is an accident. If the circumstances are as they appear, it wasn't a case of intentional neglect, such as a bad parent locking a kid in the car on a hot day to avoid dealing with them.

[Alligatorjandro]

I hope i never leave my future kids in a car.

[lexi]

My friend hydroplaned into another lane, smashed into a car. The driver of the other car was killed. It was deemed an accident and no charges were pressed. Sometimes shit happens, and no point ruining two lives because of it. He did have to go to therapy for quite awhile cause it tore him up mentally pretty badly.

He should have been charged with second degree murder. People could just hydroplane to kill their enemies!!!

/insane gaf

[RPGCrazied]

How in the world can you forget a baby in the backseat of a car? Wow @ some people.

[Toddler]

False alarm. Sorry y'all....

[Devolution]

How in the world can you forget a baby in the backseat of a car? Wow @ some people.

You can forget anything if it's a routine, the thing in question is quiet and you've convinced yourself you already dropped it off at the daycare center.

[Ferrio]

How in the world can you forget a baby in the backseat of a car? Wow @ some people.

Because your brain doesn't put a higher importance on one item than another when it comes to memory. Consciously ya... baby way more important... but your brain doesn't give a shit.

[Juancho9]

How in the world can you forget a baby in the backseat of a car? Wow @ some people.

How in the world could you have possibly not considered the possibility that you don't know every detail of the story, let alone her life.
Wow @ some gaffers

[ElectricBlue187]

I wonder if people are just sympathetic because she's a mother. If it was a father or a babysitter in this story that the exact same thing happened to, would you be glad they aren't pressing charges?

I agree that pressing charges here just spreads misery but that hasn't exactly prevented the law from pressing charges in the past.

[Devolution]

I wonder if people are just sympathetic because she's a mother. If it was a father or a babysitter in this story that the exact same thing happened to, would you be glad they aren't pressing charges?

It happened to a dad out here before and charges weren't pressed either. Left the kid in the minivan thinking he took it to daycare and it died.

[Ecotic]

I came into this thread expecting to hear people demanding she be strung up by her entrails. Of course you punish her, and as severely as possible. I have little sympathy for people who fuck over people too young to fend for themselves, let alone snuff their entire existence before it truly even began.