MANSFIELD — Mansfield Police chief Jason Bammann issued a statement Friday afternoon updating the case of a 5-year-old boy who died, apparently after being left inside a hot car on Thursday.
“The Mansfield Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is actively investigating this incident in collaboration with the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office and Richland County Children Services,” Bammann said.
“Our hearts are heavy for the family of this young child. Any case involving a child carries a deep emotional impact, and this incident is no exception,” the chief said.
“At this time, our detectives are continuing to collect all the facts of this case as we await the results of an autopsy. Once all facts are collected, it will then be presented to the Prosecutors’ Office for review and determination of whether any criminal mens rea existed.”
Mens rea is a legal term that focuses on a defendant’s intent or mental state at the time of the incident in question.
“For that reason, we do not want to speculate on charges or possible charges at this time,” Bammann said.
On Thursday, June 26, at approximately 3:15 p.m., officers from the Mansfield Division of Police and personnel from the Mansfield Fire Department responded to 91 Marion Avenue for a report of an unresponsive child in a vehicle.
Upon arrival, first responders located a 5-year-old child in the arms of his mother. The child was unresponsive, and life-saving measures were immediately initiated by both police and fire personnel.
The child was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Preliminary investigation indicates the child had been left unattended in the mother’s vehicle for an extended length of time.
“We would like to remind parents to check their backseats before getting out of their vehicles,” Bammann said. “On an 85°F day, a car’s interior can become dangerously hot, exceeding temperatures of 119°F in minutes.
“When left in a vehicle, these elevated temperatures can result in heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death.”
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Major Crimes
Detective Ronee Swisher at 419-755-9432.
“I want to commend my Officers, Detectives, Dispatchers, Evidence Technician, and EMS staff for their utmost professionalism during this investigation,” Bammann said.