Toddler Dies After She Was Left In Hot Car For Hours In South Bay

REDONDO BEACH, CA — A toddler died after allegedly being left in a hot car for hours in the South Bay while her mother drank with a friend nearby, according to reports.

June Love Agosto, 2, died at a hospital Sept. 23 after she was found unconscious inside her mother's car in Torrance, KTLA reported. The coroner ruled her death an accident while it is still under investigation, according to Fox 11.

The mother left the toddler buckled up in her car seat with a blanket on her, and the car windows rolled up. The car heater was left on for about five hours, according to the police report obtained by Fox 11. The mother admitted to police she was drinking in a car with a friend and fell asleep, the news station reported.

She said she turned on the car's heater and placed a blanket on her daughter's lap so she wouldn't get cold, but then fell asleep and awoke about 5 a.m., KTLA reported. The toddler was found unresponsive in her car seat with burns on her face, chest and arms, and vomit on her clothes, according to the news station. Her mother laid June on the lawn and sprayed her with a hose in an attempt to revive her and cool her off, Fox 11 reported.

June was rushed to the hospital in full cardiac arrest, according to the police report. Her temperature when she arrived at the hospital was 107.5 degrees, KTLA reported.

"She's my only grandchild. I just came out here, and June celebrated her second birthday. June Love was a beautiful baby. She deserved a good life. She deserved to grow up, go to school," said June's grandmother Helen Hernandez told Fox 11.

Investigators learned the mother had a history of drug abuse and lost custody of an older child six years ago due to neglect, according to KTLA.

A GoFundMe page was established to help pay for the funeral services.

"June was just 2-years-old, full of life and loved by so many," the fundraiser page said. "Unfortunately, a tragedy occurred, and beautiful June has become an Angel in Heaven."

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