Baker County Babysitter Convicted in Fatal Hot Car Death of 10-Month-Old Child

In a recent court case, a Baker County babysitter was convicted on charges related to the death of a 10-month-old child left in a hot car. The babysitter, Rhonda Jewell, 47, was found guilty of third-degree felony murder and child neglect, though she was acquitted on a charge of aggravated manslaughter. According to

First Coast News

, the conviction came yesterday after a trial where significant details of the tragic event were revealed.

The incident took place in July 2023 when Jewell reportedly failed to realize that Ariya Paige was missing for more than five hours. Found “hot to the touch” on a day with temperatures reaching 96 degrees, the baby’s external temperature was 102.1 degrees, and her internal temperature exceeded 110 degrees. Inside the car, temperatures were observed over 133 degrees, as

First Coast News

detailed.

Jewell’s defense claimed the oversight was not intentional, but ultimately, the jury sided with the state, which argued that the responsibility for Ariya Paige’s well-being rested with Jewell. As detailed by

News4Jax

, on Thursday, Jewell testified in her defense against charges that included negligent manslaughter, third-degree murder, and child neglect.

Emotionally charged responses followed the trial’s conclusion. Ariya Paige’s family has since announced their intention to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Jewell, after by leaving their baby in the hot car, she was deemed responsible for the child’s demise. In words recorded by

ActionNewsJax

, the grieving family stated, “This fight is not over.”

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