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1-year-old found dead in hot car after mother forgets him in backseat and goes to work in North Carolina

Pineville Police said that the woman was the foster mother to the child and that no criminal charges have been filed against her as of now

A one-year-old baby boy was found dead in the backseat of a Toyota SUV after his mother left him and went to work at McMullen Creek Shopping Center in Pineville, North Carolina, on Thursday, August 29.

The mother dialed 911 at around 5 pm when she realized she had "left her child in the car all day".  Temperatures on Thursday reportedly went up to the mid-80s.

The toddler was immediately rushed to the Atrium Pineville, a local hospital, but could not be saved. Pineville Police Lt. Corey Copley said, "Every life-saving measure was attempted but unfortunately failed," Fox 46 reported.

The family and witnesses outside the shopping mall are being interviewed and the authorities are also looking at security videos. Moreover, an autopsy is also being performed to find the cause of death.

“The 12-month-old is currently in the custody of the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office, where our investigation will continue,” police said in a statement on Friday, according to Charlotte Observer. “We have many questions and realistically we won’t have all the answers right away.”

In a clarification on Friday, August 30, afternoon, Pineville Police said that the woman was the foster mother to the child and that no criminal charges have been filed against her as of now. “The mother continues to be cooperative with Pineville Police and we have extended Mobile Crisis help to her and her entire family as they deal with this tragedy,” police said. “No criminal charges have been filed at this time and our case is ongoing."

The baby, found in Lowe’s parking lot in the 10600 block of Pineville-Matthews Road, is reportedly the second child to die in a hot car in North Carolina this year.

Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke (PVH) in the United States is an increasing concern as 829 children have died due to it since 1998, of which 32 kids lost their lives this year alone. Moreover, in August, at least eight such death cases have been reported across the country.

While 80 percent of those were aged three and younger, it has been found that at least 54 percent of cases involve kids aged one and younger.

Previously, Nine-month-old Kaiden Logan died in a hot car in Winston-Salem on May 2, according to a news release by the organization.