A Utah father is facing child abuse homicide charges after his 7-month-old daughter died inside a scorching hot car where she had been left unattended for more than two hours, police say.
Tommy Platero, 34, of Vernal, Utah, was arrested after authorities say he forgot to drop his infant daughter off at daycare on July 28, 2026 — leaving her locked inside a vehicle with the windows rolled up while he went to work.
By the time Platero remembered his daughter was still in the car, it was too late.
What Police Say Happened
Platero left home that morning intending to take his baby girl to daycare, but investigators say he drove directly to his workplace — a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources parking lot on North Vernal Avenue — without making the stop.
For approximately two and a half hours, the infant remained strapped in her car seat, unable to move or free herself, as temperatures inside the vehicle climbed to a deadly 151 degrees Fahrenheit. The outside temperature that day was around 92 degrees.
Around 3:30 p.m., Platero suddenly realized what he had done and ran to his vehicle. What he found inside was devastating — his daughter was not blinking, not breathing, and had foam coming from her mouth.
He rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she could not be saved.
The Investigation
Medical records showed the infant’s internal body temperature had reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit before her death — a number that stunned investigators.
Platero was arrested and booked into the Uintah County Jail on a charge of child abuse homicide.
Police extended their condolences to the family, calling the case one of the most difficult investigations their department had faced.
A Devastating Reminder
Child safety advocates warn that a car can reach deadly temperatures within minutes on a hot day — even with windows cracked. Experts urge parents to always check the back seat before leaving any vehicle.
The case remains under investigation as prosecutors prepare formal charges against Platero.