Baby Boy Dies After Father Goes Drinking And Leaves Him In Boiling Car In Florida

An 18-month-old baby died after his temperature reached 111 degrees in a sweltering hot car while his father went out drinking in Florida.

Scott Allen Gardner, 33, has been arrested in connection with the aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect causing great bodily harm, Volusia Sheriff's Office said.

Police say Gardner left his son Sebastian in a hot car, “helpless” and alone for more than three hours as he went out drinking and got a haircut on Friday, June 6.

During the investigation, police say Gardner gave multiple false accounts of what occurred that day.

It was estimated that Sebastian's body temperature reached 111 degrees during the tragic incident.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood described Gardner as a “human piece of garbage” and a “lying sack of s**t” at a press conference.

He said Gardner left Sebastian in the car at 11:30 am to get a haircut, and then he went to Hanky Panky’s Lounge around noon to have a drink.

Gardner left Sebastian in the car with a “mini fan” blowing on him and no air conditioning from then until about 2:40 pm when he left the bar and returned to his vehicle.

He then drove to his mother’s home and made a frantic 911 call, saying his son wasn’t breathing.

In a clip of the call played at a press conference, his mother can be heard screaming in the background when he tells her Sebastien isn’t breathing.

Investigators say they believe his mother was not aware of “all the facts” regarding what was going on with her grandson.

After Sebastien was pronounced dead at the hospital, Gardner went back and picked up his mother, and the pair returned to Hanky Panky’s Lounge to get drunk, police said.

Witnesses told investigators they did not seem as distraught as would be expected for such a loss.

“I pray that his son is constantly in his vision asking, ‘Dad, why did you do this to me?’” Chitwood added.

“There is no logical reason why this little guy is dead.”

Police said it was likely that Sebastien would have died one to two hours before an emergency call was made.

“We want to extend our condolences to the family and all those affected,” Ormond Beach Police Department Chief Jesse Godfrey said.

He described the case as a “tough one” and said specialist support was being provided to officers who responded to the call.

“When a child’s life is lost like this, there has to be accountability and that is what is happening right now,” he said.

“In a car, with our Florida heat, it takes minutes for the backseat, with all the windows closed, for it to become deadly.

“A child’s body heat heats up three to five times faster than an adult.”

“I just can’t stop thinking about young Sebastien in the car seat,” Godfrey added.

Police said the same officer who tried to revive Sebastian by performing CPR arrested Gardner and placed him in handcuffs today as he was taken into custody.

On a fundraising page after Sebastien’s death – now shut down after Gardner’s arrest – he was described as a “bright light.”

“During this time of profound grief, as we mourn the sudden and unexpected passing of little Sebastian, I ask for prayers for Scott Gardner, Jodi (Martineau) Thereault and family as well as help with raising money for any possible expenses and other needs that may arise as his family will need to take time off from work to grieve, make arrangements, and support each other through this tragic loss,” a statement on the page read.

“No parent should ever have to experience the pain of losing a child. I hope they can find some comfort in the love and support surrounding them.

“Sebastian's spirit and bright light will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.”