6-Month-Old Child Dies After Left in Hot Car: Collin County Sheriff’s Office
A North Texas man has been arrested for manslaughter in the death of his 6-month-old daughter.
Capt. Jim Moody of the Collin County Sheriff’s Department says deputies were called about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to the family’s home in Melissa, about forty miles north of Dallas.
An arrest warrant released Wednesday details what 33-year-old Michael Thedford told investigators.
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According to the affidavit, Thedford was questioned at the house and later the sheriff’s department. He told investigators he was caring for his three children, ages five years, three years and six months, that morning. He dressed them and took his oldest children to daycare, but his youngest was sick.
6-Month-Old Dies After Left in Hot Car: Collin Co. SO
He arrived back home at about nine a.m., went inwards and went to sleep, according to the documents.
“When he awoke around one p.m. and discovered he left the child in the vehicle, Thedford went to the vehicle, eliminated her from the child safety seat in which she had restrained. At this time the child was now un-responsive,” the warrant states.
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“Thedford brought the child into the house and placed [the] child into the refrigerator for an undetermined length of time prior to calling 911,” the warrant resumes.
The warrant shows Thedford later told investigators during his formal interview he called his wifey and placed his daughter into the refrigerator for a brief period of time, claiming he left the door open. He also attempted CPR before paramedics arrived.
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The National Weather Service reported the temperature at the nearby McKinney National Airport had risen to the low 90s but felt like the upper 90s by midday Tuesday.
Thedford was booked into the Collin County Jail Tuesday afternoon for manslaughter. He was released on a $20,000 bond Tuesday evening. Thedford’s jail record lists no attorney.
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“Obviously the investigators felt there are elements that fit the crime,” Moody said, when asked why he could face charges. “They submitted their affidavits to the judge, she signed a warrant, [the] warrant was issued, [the] individual was arrested.”
Manslaughter is a felony charge, and if the Collin County District Attorney’s Office accepts the case, it will likely be introduced to a grand jury, according to Moody.
“I just couldn’t believe it, because I would always see him with his kids and wifey running around or just going to stores,” said neighbor Fabioloa Contreras.
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Thedford’s Facebook page also shows he is the author of a children’s book.
The Celina Independent School District confirmed Thedford was employed as a physics teacher for the 2015-2016 school year. He formally resigned to pursue other opportunities, according to the district.
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The nearby Melissa Independent School District confirmed for NBC five Wednesday that Thedford never formally worked for Melissa schools but did previously finish six weeks of observation with the district as part of his required college course work.
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