A Virginia man appears to have committed suicide after discovering his son had accidentally died inside his car, authorities say.
Midlothian father and son from 18 months were found dead last Tuesday at the father’s house, according to a statement Chesterfield County Police Department press release.
Police said the father, identified by ABC affiliate WRIC-TV, as a man of 29 years, was located in the woods behind his house after his death.
Earlier that day, the father found his son dead in his car, which he had parked outside his workplace for at least three hours , reported the outlet, citing the police.
It is not clear if the boy died of a heat-related illness, but police said they are treating the boy’s death as an accident.
“This is a horrible tragedy on many levels, and our hearts go out to the family and friends who will be dealing with this,” said CCPD Lt. Col. Chris Hensley, according to WRIC-TV.
CCPD was first made aware of the boy’s death shortly before noon Tuesday, according to the department’s press release.
Police said they were also told the man was “making sui statements.” cidas” shortly before he was found dead behind his home, the statement said. after the boy was found in his car, WRIC-TV reported. Police believe the boy remained inside the car for at least three hours, according to the outlet.
Police said the father carried his son inside the house before he apparently died by suicide in the backyard.
Hensley told reporters that police “located a vehicle in the driveway with an open door and an empty child seat” inside upon arrival at the scene.
Though not it’s unclear how the boy died, authorities suspect heat may be to blame. Temperatures in Midlothian were in the 100, according to WRIC-TV, which can climb to 100 when sitting in the sun.
A body temperature of 107 degrees can kill a child, although heat stroke can start when the body reaches 100 grades, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“The body temperature of a child increases three to five times faster than that of an adult. When a child is left in a hot vehicle, that child’s temperature can rise rapidly and they could die within minutes,” the administration says on its website.
At least seven infant deaths from heatstroke have been reported in 2022.
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