An employee at UVA’s Judge Advocate General (JAG) school on North Grounds has been charged with felony homicide and child neglect for leaving her infant son in the car for the work day. According to the Associated Press, Raelyn Alene Balfour, of Greene County, left her son, Bryce, locked in her vehicle where he died March 30.
Balfour appeared in Charlottesville Juvenile and Domestic Relations court on April 6, and was granted $25,000 bond. According to The Daily Progress, Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney Dave Chapman said they do not believe Balfour intentionally hurt her child. Chapman said she intended to drop her son off with his babysitter but forgot. Police were called around 4pm, but the baby had already stopped breathing.
A medical examiner’s report determined the child died of heat exposure. Though the high temperature that day was only 66 degrees, the temperature inside the vehicle could have easily reached over 110 degrees.
Balfour faces up to 50 years in prison.
Click on this link for more information on Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Vehicles.
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