Seaford, Virginia – A tragic incident unfolded in Seaford, Virginia, as an 11-month-old baby and a dog were found dead in a car after being left alone for hours. On Tuesday, Kristen Danielle Graham, 40, was taken into custody and charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanor animal cruelty. The local sheriff revealed that officials are awaiting the baby’s autopsy results to determine if the charges will be upgraded to homicide.
According to authorities, Graham was babysitting the 11-month-old baby, identified as Myrical Wicker, who belonged to a “friend of a friend.” The baby and the dog were discovered dead after an 80-year-old man brought the baby’s body to the Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News. The baby was found inside a black plastic trash bag in the rear hatch of the man’s vehicle.
The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation and arrested Graham a few hours later. The man who brought the baby’s body to the hospital is not facing charges. Sheriff Ron Montgomery stated that Graham had frequently cared for the baby and sometimes had her for up to a week at a time.
Graham admitted to leaving the baby and the small dog in the car with the windows up from around 8:30 a.m. until she was awakened by a phone call at 2:30 p.m. When she checked on them, she found both the baby and the dog deceased. The sheriff noted that Graham has provided conflicting accounts of why she left them in the vehicle.
Authorities are now investigating the temperature inside the car on that fateful day. With temperatures reaching the upper 80s, experts are being consulted to determine the potential heat inside the vehicle. Sheriff Montgomery emphasized the importance of being cautious when traveling with children and pets, urging people to never leave them unattended in a car.
The case has deeply affected the investigators and law enforcement involved. Sheriff Montgomery expressed the devastating impact of investigating the death of a child, emphasizing the need for everyone to be more aware and responsible when caring for young children and animals.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of leaving children and pets unattended in vehicles, particularly during hot weather. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking event.