MELBOURNE, Fla. — A Palm Bay mother was arrested on a warrant after being accused of leaving her toddler son in a hot car for hours while she did drugs inside a home, according to authorities.
- Emily Hartman drove son to fire station 2 weeks ago
- Boy was suffering from "heat-related illness," officials said
- Hartman also faces possession of cocaine with intent to sell
Emily Caroline Hartman, 26, is facing aggravated manslaughter and other charges in the death of 14-month-old Richard James, according to the Melbourne Police Department.
Investigators say Hartman was not forthcoming about what happened to the toddler.
Two weeks ago, on April 4, Hartman drove to a Melbourne fire station on Eau Gallie Boulevard with the boy, who was suffering from "heat stress." He was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center, Melbourne Police say.
The child was then flown to AdventHealth for Children in Orlando for further treatment, where he died two days later.
Police said in a news release that Hartman admitted to leaving her son alone in her car while she drank at a Melbourne bar with a friend and smoked marijuana in a home where she typically got cocaine to sell.
The child was strapped in his car seat for five to six hours outside the house as temperatures climbed into the 80s that day, police said.
"She did give us some information as to what happened, however during our investigation we found out most of that was not true," Melbourne Police Lt. Trevor Shaffer said. "She parked the car directly adjacent to the house out in the street, and she was inside the house, and the child was obviously inside the car, outside the house."
Hartman was found at a friend's house on Tuesday, where she was taken into custody. She faces charges of aggravated manslaughter by neglect of a child, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, and possession of cannabis.
"She parked the car directly adjacent to the house out in the street, and she was inside the house, and the child was obviously inside the car, outside the house," Shaffer said.
No one answered the door at her Palm Bay home Wednesday, where she said in court she is staying with her father.
MOTHER ARRESTED: 26 year old Emily Hartman arrested by @MelbournePolice in death of her 14 month old child. Drove to #Melbourne Fire Station 71 4/14/19 w/ girl suffering from heat related illness. Child died at hospital. Hartman also charged w/ cocaine possession @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/ocOuIHjivp
— Greg Pallone (@gpallone13) April 17, 2019
Neighbor James Hughes, a father of four, said that what Hartman is accused of is unimaginable.
"It's unacceptable," he said. "Obviously, she needs some help."
Hartman is expected to be back in court May 16.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the child was a girl. The story has been changed to reflect the correction.