A father was arrested after being accused of leaving his toddler in a hot truck while he went to get a haircut and drinks, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. Scott Allen Gardner, 33, is facing charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect after the death of his 18-month-old. He is being held at the Volusia County Jail on no bond. Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood said the toddler was left in the back of a truck for hours on June 6. His body temperature reached 111 degrees.After getting a haircut, investigators said Gardner went to Hanky Panky’s Lounge in Ormond Beach for drinks. When Gardner left the bar and got to his car, he found his son already dead. Instead of calling 911, he drove to his mother’s house and then called for help, but by that time, Sebastian had been dead for about an hour or two.Deputies said the toddler was left in his father’s truck with no air conditioning. Gardner lowered the windows and had a small portable fan on, but it barely reached the child, leading to his death.”I don’t think there’s a penalty on this earth that can ever fit for the crime that was committed here,” Chitwood said. “It absolutely shocks the conscience, for this, that this even happened. There’s no reason whatsoever.”Chitwood stated that Gardner went out for more drinks with his mother at Hanky Panky’s Lounge following the toddler’s death. The same police officer who attempted to revive the toddler placed Gardner in handcuffs at his mother’s home in Ormond Beach. “This guy is nothing but a piece of s***,” said Chitwood. “And as I said earlier, I pray that his son is constantly in his vision, asking him, Dad, why did you do this to me? There’s no logical reason why this little guy is dead.”It took about two weeks of reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses to piece together what happened. Gardner was taken into custody on Thursday. He appeared before a judge Friday afternoon. Below: Volusia County sheriff gives update
A father was arrested after being accused of leaving his toddler in a hot truck while he went to get a haircut and drinks, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Scott Allen Gardner, 33, is facing charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect after the death of his 18-month-old. He is being held at the Volusia County Jail on no bond.
Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood said the toddler was left in the back of a truck for hours on June 6. His body temperature reached 111 degrees.
After getting a haircut, investigators said Gardner went to Hanky Panky’s Lounge in Ormond Beach for drinks.
When Gardner left the bar and got to his car, he found his son already dead. Instead of calling 911, he drove to his mother’s house and then called for help, but by that time, Sebastian had been dead for about an hour or two.
Deputies said the toddler was left in his father’s truck with no air conditioning. Gardner lowered the windows and had a small portable fan on, but it barely reached the child, leading to his death.
“I don’t think there’s a penalty on this earth that can ever fit for the crime that was committed here,” Chitwood said. “It absolutely shocks the conscience, for this, that this even happened. There’s no reason whatsoever.”
Chitwood stated that Gardner went out for more drinks with his mother at Hanky Panky’s Lounge following the toddler’s death.
The same police officer who attempted to revive the toddler placed Gardner in handcuffs at his mother’s home in Ormond Beach.
“This guy is nothing but a piece of s***,” said Chitwood. “And as I said earlier, I pray that his son is constantly in his vision, asking him, Dad, why did you do this to me? There’s no logical reason why this little guy is dead.”
It took about two weeks of reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses to piece together what happened. Gardner was taken into custody on Thursday. He appeared before a judge Friday afternoon.
Below: Volusia County sheriff gives update
