Louisiana Mother Sentenced After Leaving 10-Month-Old in Car That Reached 140 Degrees While She Worked at Wendy’s
JENNINGS, LOUISIANA — A Louisiana mother has been sentenced to prison after authorities say she left her 10-month-old daughter alone in a parked car that heated up to 140 degrees while she worked a shift at Wendy’s, leading to the child’s death.
Five-Year Prison Sentence Handed Down
Hannah Faith Cormier, 33, was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for the death of her infant daughter, according to the Jeff Davis Parish District Attorney’s Office. The child’s name has not been released publicly.
Cormier pleaded no contest in July to a charge of negligent homicide, bringing the criminal case to a close nearly a year after the deadly incident.
Baby Left in Car for About Two Hours
Authorities said Cormier drove her daughter to work at the Wendy’s location in Jennings on Aug. 13, 2024, and then left the baby inside the car for roughly two hours while she worked.
That afternoon, outside temperatures were in the low 90s, but the heat index reached about 106 degrees, according to reporting by KADN. Investigators later measured the temperature inside the vehicle at approximately 140 degrees.
Emergency responders rushed the infant to the hospital, but she died the following day from heat-related injuries.
Police Say Child Was Intentionally Taken to Work
Cormier was initially charged with second-degree murder, a decision police said was based on the circumstances of the case rather than an accident or momentary lapse.
Danny Semmes said the evidence showed this was not a situation where a parent forgot a child was in the car.
“The situation wasn’t a case of she just forgot the baby in the car,” Semmes said at the time. “That’s what brought us to charging her.”
Semmes added that Cormier intentionally drove the child to work, and while investigators did not believe she intended to harm her daughter, her actions directly caused the child’s death.
Charges Reduced After Grand Jury Review
In October 2024, a grand jury indicted Cormier on the lesser charge of negligent homicide. Prosecutors later sought a sentence ranging from five to 10 years in prison.
The final sentence was enhanced under Louisiana law because the victim was under the age of 10, ultimately resulting in the five-year term.
Community Impact and Prosecutor’s Statement
District Attorney Lauren Heinen said the case deeply affected the Jennings community.
“The death of any child is heartbreaking, and losing this 10-month-old baby has deeply affected our whole community,” Heinen said in a statement. “No sentence can bring her back or take away the pain everyone feels. This was a difficult case with tragic circumstances, but every child deserves to be protected.”
Reminder of Extreme Hot Car Dangers
Safety experts warn that vehicles can reach deadly temperatures within minutes, even on days that do not feel excessively hot. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable because their bodies heat up much faster than adults’.
Authorities continue to urge parents and caregivers to never leave children unattended in vehicles, even briefly.
If you have thoughts on this case or want to discuss child safety awareness in extreme heat, share your perspective and stay informed with continued national coverage at CabarrusWeekly.com.
