A North Carolina father faces felony charges after his 2-year-old son died from being left alone in a sweltering room for over 12 hours.
At a Glance
- Aaron Lynwood Carter charged with felony involuntary manslaughter and child abuse
- 2-year-old River Carter found dead in a room over 100°F
- Child left alone for more than 12 hours with a space heater
- Carter held on $500,000 bond, awaiting court appearance
- Incident occurred in West End, North Carolina
Tragic Death of River Carter
A heartbreaking incident unfolded in West End, North Carolina, resulting in the death of 2-year-old River Carter. The Moore County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies and emergency medical personnel responded to a call about an unresponsive child. Upon arrival, they found River Carter, who was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Father charged in death of 2-year-old son in North Carolina https://t.co/8P6uewekzO
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Investigations revealed that River had been left alone in a room for over 12 hours, exposed to dangerously high temperatures from a space heater. The official cause of death was determined to be “hypernatremic dehydration due to environmental heat exposure.” The room’s temperature was estimated to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with reports indicating that a fan near the heater had warped from the intense heat.
Father’s Actions and Arrest
Aaron Lynwood Carter, River’s father, allegedly left his son in the heated room to save on power costs by turning off the central air and using space heaters instead. Despite hearing River “moving around” the next morning, Carter did not check on him for over 12 hours. This negligence led to the child’s untimely death.
A month after the incident, Aaron Carter was arrested and charged with felony involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury. He is currently held at the Moore County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond, awaiting his court appearance.
Delayed Investigation and Charges
The delay in charging Carter was attributed to the wait for autopsy results from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Major Eric Galloway of the Moore County Sheriff’s Office stated, “‘As soon as we got confirmation of the cause of death, we arrested him.'” This delay highlights a broader issue in North Carolina’s medical examiner system.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has reported a shortage of forensic pathologists, contributing to delays in autopsy results. Recommendations have been made to improve the system, including establishing new autopsy centers and hiring additional staff to address these critical delays in criminal investigations.
Community Impact and Remembrance
The loss of River Carter has deeply affected the West End community. In his obituary, River was described as a “genuine and kind soul,” leaving behind one sister. As the legal proceedings against Aaron Carter unfold, the community continues to grapple with the loss of a young life and the circumstances that led to this heartbreaking event.
Sources:
Boy, 2, baked to death ‘after dad dumped him in room with space heater for 15 hours’
2-year-old boy reportedly left alone in room for more than 12 hours dies
2-year-old boy reportedly left alone in room for more than 12 hours dies
