Yavapai County, Arizona – Yavapai County authorities announced the arrest of a neighborhood boy who they believe was caring for a 6-month-old baby who was left in a hot car for several hours on July 30 in Cordes Lakes.

The baby was pronounced dead by police and medical teams upon discovery.

Yavapai County authorities say the baby was left in the car for about seven hours.

The average high temperature this year in Cordes Lakes was over 100 degrees.

What does the sheriff's office think happened?

Investigators said the baby's mother asked a neighbor for a ride to Prescott Valley, and on the way home, the baby fell asleep in the car.

According to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, the neighbor was asked to leave the baby with the father, who is expected to return home shortly.

“The neighbor returned home around 2 p.m., parked her car in the hot sun and entered the home saying she had forgotten about the baby inside the car,” YCSO said.

Later, at about 8:45 p.m., the father contacted the mother, who was at work, to ask when the neighbor was coming to pick up their son.

The mother immediately called a neighbor, who realized the baby was still in the car.

“The neighbor ran to the father's house, where the father and neighbor pulled the baby from the vehicle, called 911, and attempted CPR,” YCSO said. “The baby had been left secured in a car seat in the back seat of the neighbor's vehicle for approximately seven hours.”

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Arizona hot car fatality statistics

According to Child and car safetyThis is the second car heatstroke death in Arizona this year and the 12th nationwide this month.

Since 1994, 49 children have died in hot cars in our state, the fourth-worst toll in the nation.

At least 1,101 children have died in hot cars since 1990, 88 percent of whom were under the age of 3.

Of these, 55% were children who had been left in cars without their guardians or parents realising.