A Tennessee woman has been charged in the death of a 7-month-old infant after authorities say she left the child in a hot car for several hours while she was at work. The incident occurred on April 15, 2026, in Putnam County.
Details of the Incident
According to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Linda Charlene Stevens, 67, was responsible for taking her foster grandchild to daycare that morning. However, when the baby did not arrive, daycare staff contacted the infant's foster mother, who then reached out to Stevens. It was at that point Stevens realized she had forgotten to drop the child off before heading to her job at a local library.
Emergency crews were called to the scene, but lifesaving measures were unsuccessful. The sheriff's office stated that the infant had been left alone inside the vehicle with the windows rolled up and the engine off from approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The temperature inside the car likely reached dangerous levels during that time.
Legal Charges and Bond
District Attorney Bryant Dunaway announced on Friday, April 24, that Stevens had been charged with negligent homicide. She was booked into the Putnam County Jail and released on a $50,000 bond.
The case has drawn attention to the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, especially during warmer months. Authorities urge caregivers to always double-check their vehicles before locking them and to never leave children alone in a car, even for a short period.
