Florida dad left toddler son to die in hot car for 3 hours as he got haircut, went drinking at bar: police

A Florida dad is accused of leaving his helpless toddler to die inside his hot car for hours while he got a haircut and stopped to grab a drink at a bar in blazing temperatures.
Scott Allen Gardner, 33, allegedly locked his 18-month-old son, Sebastian, inside his sweltering truck when he freshened up his 'do and stopped at Hanky Panky's Lounge in Ormond Beach, Florida, on June 6, police said.
The unaccompanied tot was left inside the blistering heat of the vehicle for over three hours as temperatures outside reached 92 degrees, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post.
5 Scott Allen Gardner is escorted by Florida police officers during his arrest on June 19, 2025.
Volusia Sheriff's Office
Medical examiners estimate the baby's body temperature reached a deadly 111 degrees as he sat in the truck.
Law enforcement agents performed life-saving measures on Sebastian, but the baby ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office alleges Gardner is responsible for little Sebastian's death as he enjoyed a day in the Ormond-by-the-Sea neighborhood, eight miles north of Daytona Beach.
The heartless father allegedly gave multiple false accounts to police of the events leading up to his son's death, the sheriff's office said.
Gardner was arrested on Thursday after police tracked him down to his mother's home in Ormond Beach.
5 Gardner was booked into Volusia County Jail and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect causing great bodily harm.
Volusia Sheriff's Office
5 Hanky Panky's Lounge where Gardner went drinking, leaving his son outside in his truck.
Fox35
Gardner was booked into Volusia County Jail and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect causing great bodily harm.
He was handed a $100,000 bond.
Bodycam footage from the sheriff's office captured the moment the deadbeat dad was detained inside an enclosed porch on the property.
'The same OBPD officer who tried to revive Sebastian placed Gardner in handcuffs today as he was taken into custody at his mother's home in Ormond Beach,' the sheriff's office said.
5 Bodycam footage from the sheriff's office captured the moment the deadbeat dad was detained inside an enclosed porch on the property.
Volusia Sheriff's Office
5 Gardner is searched before being placed in the back of a cop car during his arrest.
Volusia Sheriff's Office
As Gardner was led away from the home, two unidentified people called out to the suspected killer, saying they loved him.
'I love you guys,' Gardner replied before one of the officers told him, 'Say goodbye, because you're not going to come back here again.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

26 minutes ago

• Yahoo

SJPD reminds residents to protect their homes while away during summer

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Police Department is urging residents to stay vigilant against crime during the summer months. Although no recent cases have been reported, SJPD wants to remind the community that criminals are often more active during warmer weather. Something as simple as an unlocked garage can make you a target for burglary. Oversharing on social media can also increase your risk. Authorities advise posting cautiously, especially while traveling. If you're going to be away for a while, posting vacation pictures on Facebook can be tempting because you want to share with your friends and family," said Sgt. Jeremy Peters with the St. Joseph Police Department. "But there are people who look for that, and if they know you're not going to be at your address, business, or home for a while, they may try to take advantage of that opportunity." Police recommend waiting until you return home to share vacation photos, asking a trusted neighbor to watch your property and installing security cameras as effective deterrents. If neighbors notice any suspicious or unfamiliar activity in their area, they are encouraged to call 911 immediately so an officer can investigate. The St. Joseph Police Department also offers a free residential and business watch service, which allows officers to periodically check on your property while you're away. "The officers working on the street, day or night, are made aware of those addresses and provide extra patrol during their shifts, Peters said. Residents can fill out the watch request form by visiting and navigating to 'Forms and Requests'.

CBS News

6 hours ago

• CBS News

16 billion login credentials from Google and other sites leaked online, report says

Sixteen billion login credentials have been leaked and compiled into datasets online, giving criminals "unprecedented access" to accounts consumers use each day, according to researchers at cybersecurity outlet Cybernews. According to a report published this week, Cybernews researchers have recently discovered 30 exposed datasets that each contain a vast amount of login information — amounting to a total of 16 billion compromised credentials. That includes user passwords for a range of popular platforms including Google, Facebook and Apple. Because 16 billion is roughly double the amount of people on Earth today, the number signals that impacted consumers may have had credentials for more than one account leaked. Cybernews notes that there are most certainly duplicates in the data and so "it's impossible to tell how many people or accounts were actually exposed." It's also important to note that the leaked login information doesn't stem from a single source, such as one breach targeting a company. Instead, it appears that the data was stolen through multiple events over time, and then compiled and briefly exposed publicly, which is when Cybernews reports that its researchers discovered it. Various so-called "infostealers" are most likely the culprit, Cybernews noted. Infostealers are a form of malicious software that breaches a victim's device or systems to take sensitive information. The report comes amid a recent wave of cybersecurity attacks, which have grown more advanced in recent years. Two insurers, Erie Insurance and Philadelphia Insurance Companies, announced that their networks were hacked earlier this month. On Friday, Aflac said hackers gained access to its customers' personal information in a cybersecurity attack last week. Experts worry the situation may only get worse, CBS News' 60 Minutes recently reported. Experts call for "cyber hygiene" Many questions remain about these leaked credentials, including whose hands the login credentials are in now. But, as data breaches become more and more common in today's world, experts continue to stress the importance of maintaining key "cyber hygiene." If you're worried about your account data potentially being exposed in a recent breach, the first thing you can do is change your password — and avoid using the same or similar login credentials on multiple sites. If you find it too hard to memorize all your different passwords, consider a password manager or passkey. And also add multifactor authentication, which can serve as a second layer of verification through your phone, email or USB authenticator key.

The Hill

8 hours ago

• The Hill

Man charged with attempted kidnapping of Memphis mayor

A Memphis man was charged on Wednesday for attempted kidnapping after allegedly stalking Mayor Paul Young (D). Police said Trenton Abston, 25, has also been charged for criminal trespassing after visiting Young's home on Sunday. Investigators said at the time of Abston's arrest, officers recovered a taser, gloves, rope, and duct tape from his vehicle. 'Upon further review of both public and private security camera footage, we have determined that the suspect did not approach multiple homes, as initially reported,' the Memphis Police Department said in a Wednesday statement. 'Instead, after scaling a wall, the individual went directly to the Mayor's residence,' they added. Abston is scheduled to appear in court on Monday morning. Young addressed the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday, thanking officers for apprehending Abston while citing a growing concern for targeted political violence after two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota were shot over the weekend along with their spouses. 'In today's climate, especially after the tragic events in Minnesota and the threats my wife and I often receive online, none of us can be too careful. The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable,' Young wrote. 'What starts as reckless words online can all too quickly become something much more dangerous. The angry rhetoric, the hateful speech, and the heated threats create a culture where violence feels like a next step instead of a red line,' he added. 'We cannot allow that line to be crossed.'