An infant who was found in a hot car in Spring Hill Friday has died, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers were called to the 1200 block of Elgin Boulevard at about 11:30 a.m. after the boy’s father found him in the backseat of the car.
The grandfather tells News Channel 8 he had been there through the night.
A sheriff’s office spokeswoman said the father performed CPR until paramedics arrived at the scene and the boy, identified as 9-month-old Keyton O’Callaghan, was taken to Oak Hill Hospital where he later died.
Deputies have not confirmed when the little boy was left in the car. He had been in the care of his mother, 38-year-old Cami Lee Moyer, since last night, according to deputies.
Spring Hill was forecast to hit 94 degrees on Friday.
Neighbors who live near the home were devastated upon hearing the news of the child’s death.
“It’s just very sad to have a 9-month-old baby left in the house like this or outside in a car. I mean, you’re in Florida, the heat tremendous out here, the humidity is terrible. I myself at 40-years-old couldn’t be outside for more than 10 or 15 minutes without a bottle of water, so I can only imagine how this poor baby felt,” said Jason Mazzariello.
The grandfather also tells News Channel 8 the baby had been born with a virus and the odds of surviving were against him.
However, he did survive and, after six months of hospital visits, the doctors told the family he had overcome it.
The grandfather cannot believe his “miracle” baby is gone.
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office says parents are cooperating with investigators.
It is not known if they will face any charges.