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A 36-year-old Nebraska father, Jeremy Hansen, has been charged with negligent child abuse after his 5-month-old son died from being left in a hot car
The infant was found unresponsive, and first responders were unable to revive him
The incident occurred during a 105 degree heat advisory
A Nebraska father is facing charges after his son died from being left in a car on a sweltering hot day.
Authorities responded to a call of a baby unresponsive in a hot car at a parking lot in Hastings on Monday around 5 p.m., KSNB, NTV and KETV reported.
The five-month-old was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, the local outlets reported. A preliminary police investigation determined he died of extreme heat exposure.
Later that evening, police arrested and charged the father, Jeremy Hansen, 36, with his son’s death. He faces a charge of negligent child abuse resulting in death.
“This is a heartbreaking incident and our hearts go out to the family, friends, first responders and all those affected by this unimaginable loss,” a statement from authorities said, per NTV.
On Tuesday, Hansen was formally charged by the Adams County District Attorney’s office; he will have his initial court appearance Friday, per the local outlets. It wasn't immediately clear if he has retained an attorney or entered a plea.
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According to the U.S. National Weather Service, temperatures were around 105 degrees Fahrenheit in southern Nebraska at around 5 p.m. on July 28, when Hansen's son was found.
“We know we have at least a few days like this every summer," the NWS wrote in a Facebook post. "That doesn’t make them any less dangerous to those vulnerable to heat, working outdoors, without AC and to pets,” the National Weather Service wrote in a Facebook post.
According to the organization Kids and Car Safety, five children in Nebraska died in hot cars from 1999 to 2024. On average, 40 children die each year from heatstroke in cars across the country, according to the organization.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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