Tragedy Strikes: Arizona Family Mourns Loss as Infant Left in Sweltering Car by Babysitter

The incident was reported in the Cordes Lakes area Tuesday night.

YAVAPAI COUNTY, Ariz. — A 6-month-old infant tragically died after being left in a vehicle in Arizona.

A woman claiming to be the child’s mother stated that the babysitter had left the baby unattended in the car for seven hours. The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed her devastation over the incident. She explained that the neighbor was watching her child while she worked and allegedly forgot the baby in the car after dropping her off Tuesday afternoon.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) reported receiving a call at around 9 p.m. on Tuesday night about an infant left in a vehicle and believed to be deceased. Paramedics and deputies responded to the Cordes Lakes area and found the baby dead at the scene.

YCSO has not confirmed the duration the baby was left in the car and has not verified the information provided by the mother to 12News. The news team visited the neighbor’s house for comments, but a man on the property chose not to speak on the matter.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

“The Valley” refers to the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, the largest metro area in the Southwest. It includes various major cities such as:

• Mesa
• Chandler
• Scottsdale
• Tempe
• Glendale
• Surprise
• Peoria
• Gilbert
• El Mirage
• Avondale
• Litchfield Park
• Goodyear
• Buckeye

The classification of a city as part of the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on its geographical location relative to Phoenix. The combined population of these cities stands at 4,845,832 as per the 2020 U.S. Census, making it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the nation.

Maricopa County, where most of these cities are located, is the 4th largest county in the United States by population with 4,485,414 residents, according to the 2020 Census. It accounts for about 63% of Arizona’s population and spans 9,224 square miles, larger than seven U.S. states.

The county also boasts one of the nation’s largest park systems, encompassing roughly 120,000 acres of open space, along with extensive trails, nature centers, and campgrounds. Phoenix, the state capital and the county seat, is also the 5th most populous city in the United States.

Maricopa County is named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.