Florida Day Care Driver Charged With Toddler's Death In Hot Van

OAKLAND PARK, FL — A 46-year-old day care driver was charged Friday in the death of a Florida toddler who was left behind in a sweltering day care van earlier in the summer. Engrid Thurston was charged with aggravated manslaughter after being taken into custody at her home, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

The body of two-year-old Noah Sneed was found in the van by a day care worker on July 29. The van had been parked outside Ceressa's Daycare and Preschool in Oakland Park, Florida. The business was located at 3140 NW 21st Ave., not far from Fort Lauderdale.

"Through the investigation, detectives confirmed Noah Sneed had been picked up to be transported to the facility at 9:02 that morning," the Broward Sheriff's Office said in announcing the arrest. "Upon arriving at the daycare, Thurston disengaged the van’s safety alarm before removing the children from the vehicle. Noah was left inside."

About 38 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in hot vehicles, according to the National Safety Council, which said that some 40 deaths have already been reported in 2019. The most recent death occurred on Sept. 3.

Temperatures in Oakland Park hovered around 88 degrees Fahrenheit on the day Sneed was found. A total of four young children have died in Florida this year after being left in hot vehicles, according to the National Safety Council.

"Nearly every state has experienced at least one death since 1998, and in 2018, a record number of 52 children died after being left in a hot vehicle," said the National Safety Council, which noted that more than half of the children had been forgotten by a parent or caregiver.

Find more information on hot-car deaths at noheatstroke.org.

To report a tip in the Florida case, contact BSO Homicide Detective John Curcio at 954-321-4210. Alternatively, call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or visit www.browardcrimestoppers.org.