The Gift of Ben: How love of a wife saved devastated husband after he accidentally killed his baby son

On July 7, 2014, Lindsey Rogers-Seitz's husband, Kyle, accidentally left their son, Benjamin, in a hot car for eight hours, causing the tot's death
UPDATED MAY 3, 2023
Lindsey Rogers-Seitz lost her young son after her husband accidentally left him in his hot car for eight hours (Family Handout)
Lindsey Rogers-Seitz lost her young son after her husband accidentally left him in his hot car for eight hours (Family Handout)

MORRISVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA: Life was blissful for Lindsey Rogers-Seitz, a mother-of-three, with her husband, Kyle, and children until July 7, 2014, when se experienced a parent's worst nightmare. Rogers-Seitz has shared details of the incident that led to the death of her young son in her brand-new memoir, 'The Gift of Ben'.

On July 7, Kyle, a former software engineer, forgot to drop off the couple's 15-month-old son Benjamin at daycare and instead drove to his office, leaving him in the back seat of the family's Jeep Cherokee for eight hours, according to the Daily Mail. Benjamin was pronounced dead at the hospital from hyperthermia. Rogers-Seitz and Kyle were forced to leave Connecticut for Colorado after being hounded by the media, rumors and child protective services. Kyle was found guilty of homicide by criminal negligence. Roger-Seitz left her position as a lawyer to focus on raising their two daughters. Despite everything, Rogers-Seitz and Kyle have managed to keep their marriage afloat and their profound affection for one another.

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'I am profoundly in love with my husband'

Kyle, now 44, discusses how he was able to forgive himself after "countless" repetitions of replaying the death of his son in his mind, according to the Daily Mail. Rogers-Seitz also describes how she conquered her anger and blame towards her husband. 

She said, "I am profoundly in love with my husband. It's probably stronger than it used to be... after all the grief and trauma we are probably more solid now but I'd describe it as quieter. Calmer. More relaxed. Just the little moments that we really enjoy now." She is currently residing in a home in North Carolina where they relocated to be near her family, according to the Daily Mail. 

What is the focus of Lindsey Rogers-Seitz's memoir?

In her memoir, Rogers-Seitz describes her battles with mental illness and her family's ability to recover from the tragedy that for years defined them. She claimed that she never considered leaving her husband despite "immense" pressure from Connecticut's Department of Children and Families to take their daughters and leave, according to the Daily Mail. The couple described how torturous it was to endure police and child protective services' inquiries for months after Ben's death.



 

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