'Everyone Is Heartbroken': Community Rallies For LI Toddler Who Died In Hot Jeep

SMITHTOWN, NY — A fundraiser has been created for the family of Chyasia Evans, the toddler who died after Suffolk police said her grandmother forgot to drop her off at day care Monday and left her in a hot Jeep for eight hours in Smithtown.

The GoFundMe page was created for the girl's mother, Jessica Watkins, by Derrick Rountree. Rountree wrote he is Watkins's best friend and was Evans's godfather.

If you would like to donate to the fundraiser for Watkins, you may do so here.

"And it is on behalf of and with permission from Jessica, that I am asking and reaching out to family and friends during this time to help with funeral costs, and to help Jessica with her personal expenses due to her going be out of work, in any way that could make this tragedy a little easier," Rountree wrote. "Whatever you do big or small in any way possible will be greatly appreciated. And we also ask that you keep US ALL IN YOUR PRAYERS as we all try to process this profound loss. And as I know more details as to when and where, I will keep everyone updated. On behalf of Jessica and myself THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE. Be Blessed!"

All funds are set up to go directly to Watkins, Rountree said. More than $5,500 has been raised as of Thursday afternoon.

"We would like to thank everyone who took time to donate," Rountree told Patch. "Any amount will help take a little bit of the financial burden off of Chyasia’s family. Everyone is heartbroken over this tremendous loss."

A Greenlawn woman, 54, forgot to drop off Evans, who was 14 months old, at day care and went to work, leaving Evans in a car seat in the backseat of the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, police said. The woman went to pick the girl up at the day care on Redwood Lane eight hours later when she realized she left the child in her Jeep, police said.

Evans was pronounced dead at Saint Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown, police said.