Toddler Dies After Hours in Hot Van

Thursday, July 15, 2010

By Astrid Galvan
Journal Staff Writer Authorities late Wednesday identified the mother of a 2-year-old girl who died after she was left in a sweltering minivan for several hours. Stephanie Pi�on, 27, is being charged with child abuse resulting in death, officials said. She was detained most of Wednesday but was expected to be released on her own recognizance. Police said Pi�on has no criminal history. The 2-year-old girl, identified as Jahzel Pi�on, died at Lovelace Westside Hospital around 1 p.m., several hours after she was left alone in a dark blue Chevy Venture van in the parking lot of the Early Childhood Learning Center at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, 9169 Coors NW. The last time a child died in New Mexico after being left in a vehicle was July 2004. Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene around 12:15 p.m., said Sgt. Mark Kmatz. Pi�on, who has three other children, found the girl unresponsive in the van. All the windows and doors were closed. Kmatz said temperatures in the van likely reached between 128 and 135 degrees. In a 911 call released late Wednesday, Pi�on can be heard screaming and crying hysterically in the background as a worker at the center spoke with a dispatcher. The worker told the dispatcher Pi�on forgot the girl was in the van. "I'd never hurt my baby, never," she yelled. Kmatz said Pi�on was at the center to take her 4-year-old child to an appointment. She checked in at the center at 9:30 a.m. and checked out around noon, when she went outside and found the girl. After hearing yells for help, center employees ran outside, grabbed the girl and took her inside, where they performed CPR. The girl was transported to Lovelace Westside Hospital, where she later died. The older child who had an appointment at the center was released to the Children, Youth and Families Department. Kmatz said there were prior reported incidents to CYFD, although the nature of those reports was unclear. The July 2004 case involved a 4-year-old girl in Shiprock who suffocated after she was locked in a car for several hours. Wednesday's death was the nation's third this week involving a child left in a car. It was the 23rd this year, according to San Francisco State University, which collects such information. Kmatz said even with windows cracked or rolled down, leaving a child in a vehicle can be deadly. The temperature in a vehicle can reach more than 100 degrees even with all the doors open.

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ABQJOURNAL NEWS/METRO: Toddler Dies After Hours in Hot Van

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• Pi

[LovedbcHim]

@sexykatie90 I think the only reason why people pressed like is because they are glad this is being shown, because unfortunately some parents still don't get it. You never leave a child in an automobile, ever.

[uzi2013]

Wow Ur crazy wow

[allluvtoSTANLEE]

i just saved money on my car insurance!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rosecute143]

why you left your child where are you when your child is walking?

[DasHinGHussAm]

u mother fuckin mom why r u cryin after u left ur baby????screw u!!!

[sexykatie90]

thumbs up if you liked this Toddler Dies After Hours in Hot Van

[MrMontgomery2]

That is just sad! This happens a lot more then kist would believe. There's a cool little reminder doll made for this. Look up baby bobble fresh.

[tom202100]

What the h*** is f***** wrong with the people leaving a inesant baby in a 10000" car are you out of you piece of s*** mind b****!

[davidWgruUP909]

SIPI is cursed. That school needs to close. Go to Haskell instead.

[builderman1567]

bitch why did you leave your baby in a 1000909" F car are you CRAZY!?!?!!