BATON ROUGE, La. – The Latest on the arrest of a Louisiana man whose 8-month-old daughter died after police say he left her in a hot car for about two hours (all times local):
2 p.m.
The death of an 8-month-old girl who police say was left in a hot car by her father has been ruled accidental by a Louisiana coroner.
After an autopsy on the girl Thursday, East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Beau Clark said hyperthermia is the suspected cause of Raylee Mercer's death pending additional tests. Clark said he ruled that the "manner" of her death is an accident.
The girl's father — 31-year-old Marvin Mercer of Zachary — was arrested Wednesday on a negligent homicide charge and freed from jail hours later on $10,000 bond.
Police said the father left the child in his car after arriving at work at a Baton Rouge school Wednesday morning. Mercer told investigators he was supposed to take his daughter to day care but instead followed his normal routine and drove to work.
Police said Mercer found her in his car during his lunch break and drove her to a hospital, where she died.
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9:30 a.m.
A Louisiana man whose 8-month-old daughter died after being left in a hot car for about two hours has been released from jail following his arrest on a negligent homicide charge.
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks said in an email 31-year-old Marvin Mercer of Zachary was freed on $10,000 bond Wednesday night.
Police said Mercer left his daughter, Raylee Mercer, in his car after arriving at work at a Baton Rouge school Wednesday morning. Mercer told investigators he was supposed to take his daughter to day care but instead followed his normal routine and drove to work.
Police said Mercer found her in his car during his lunch break and drove her to a hospital, where she died.
An autopsy was planned for Thursday.
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