Tragic Loss: Infant Perishes After Hours in Hot Arizona Car, Family Reports

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

YAVAPAI COUNTY, Ariz. — A 6-month-old baby has died after being left unattended in a vehicle in Arizona.

According to a woman who claims to be the infant’s mother, the babysitter neglected to remove the child from the car for seven hours.

The mother requested anonymity, citing her devastation over the incident. She explained that her neighbor was caring for her 6-month-old while she worked. The neighbor allegedly dropped her off in the afternoon and then forgot the baby in their vehicle.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office stated it received a report around 9 p.m. Tuesday night about an infant left in a car, believed to be deceased. When deputies and paramedics arrived in the Cordes Lakes area, they confirmed the baby was dead.

YCSO has not disclosed how long the baby was left in the car. Additionally, the office did not confirm the mother’s account provided to 12News.

When 12News visited the neighbor’s house for comment, a man on the property declined to speak.

The incident is still under investigation.

“The Valley” refers to the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.

The Valley includes 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 location relative to Phoenix.

The Valley’s cities collectively have a population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country, trailing only the Boston and Atlanta areas.

Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county by population, housing 4,485,414 people according to the 2020 Census.

The county accounts for approximately 63% of Arizona’s population and spans 9,224 square miles, making it larger than seven U.S. states.

One of the largest park systems in the nation is situated in Maricopa County, encompassing around 120,000 acres of open space parks with extensive trails, nature centers, and campgrounds.

Phoenix, the county seat and state capital, is the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.

The county’s name honors the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.