Tragic Loss: Baby Left in Scorching Car by Babysitter Near Cordes Lakes, Family Reports

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

YAVAPAI COUNTY, Ariz. — A 6-month-old infant tragically passed away after being left alone in a car for several hours amid Arizona’s intense summer heat.

A woman, who identified herself as the child’s mother, claimed that the babysitter had left the infant unattended in the vehicle for seven hours.

Preferring to remain anonymous, the devastated mother stated that her neighbor was tasked with babysitting while she worked. According to her, the neighbor returned home Tuesday afternoon and, in a tragic oversight, forgot the baby in the car.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office received a report around 9 p.m. Tuesday night about an infant left in a car in Cordes Lakes. When deputies and paramedics arrived, the baby was found deceased.

Officials have not disclosed how long the baby was unattended in the car. Moreover, the Sheriff’s Office has not confirmed the information provided by the mother.

12News attempted to speak with the neighbor, but a man at the residence declined to comment.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Further context about the local area:

“The Valley” refers to the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest. It encompasses multiple major cities including Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Glendale.

According to the 2020 United States Census, the combined population of the Valley’s cities is 4,845,832, making it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country.

Maricopa County, which includes these cities, is the 4th most populous county in the U.S., boasting 4,485,414 residents as per the 2020 Census.

Covering 9,224 square miles, Maricopa County is larger than seven U.S. states. It also features one of the nation’s largest park systems, with approximately 120,000 acres of open space, trails, nature centers, and campgrounds.

Phoenix, the state capital, serves as the county seat. Maricopa County is named after the Maricopa or Piipaash Native American Tribe.