Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

[bigeastbumrush]

HEMPSTEAD - A Hempstead father has been charged in the death of his 7-month-son after police say he left his son in the car.

Devon Fenner, 25, told detectives that he had just dropped off two of his children at day care before returning home yesterday afternoon. After being inside for at least 30 minutes, Fenner realized he left his 7-month-old son Dominick in the car.

Investigators say Fenner called 911 when he realized the baby wasn't breathing.

Prosecutors say one window was slightly cracked, but the temperature inside the car was 119 degrees.
Police say it's not clear what Fenner was doing inside the home while the baby was in the car. Authorities say Fenner was found in possession of a small amount of marijuana, but say they are still investigating whether he was under the influence at the time.

Fenner pleaded not guilty today to a criminally negligent homicide charge.

Police say Devon Fenner, 25, realized at 1:40 p.m. that he forgot to remove his son from inside his parked car in front of their residence. (August 21, 2013)

[Blzer]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

What specifically do you need to be clarified? The charge?

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

What specifically do you need to be clarified? The charge?

How does one forget their child in a car. And for 30 minutes.

I just can't wrap my brain around this.

[Blzer]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

How does one forget their child in a car. And for 30 minutes.

I just can't wrap my brain around this.

Well the alleged marijuana for one, distractions for another..

Honestly, it's easier done than said, really. Sometimes I tell myself something pertinent that I have to do, and forget eight seconds later because of some sort of distraction.

I'm not saying that it's easier to forget a child, but he could have been sleeping and he might have been on the phone, or maybe the phone rang. You just never know. Things just happen. It sucks, and I'm positive he isn't the neglectful guy he's going to be made out to be... but it's definitely not the strangest incident I've heard of.

[dingleberryfinn]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

The only thing I don't understand is how this happens all the time.
Sad.

[Burns11]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

Well the alleged marijuana for one, distractions for another..

Honestly, it's easier done than said, really. Sometimes I tell myself something pertinent that I have to do, and forget eight seconds later because of some sort of distraction.

I'm not saying that it's easier to forget a child, but he could have been sleeping and he might have been on the phone, or maybe the phone rang. You just never know. Things just happen. It sucks, and I'm positive he isn't the neglectful guy he's going to be made out to be... but it's definitely not the strangest incident I've heard of.

Agree with everything else, but the bold is going a bit far. Really have no idea what the guy is, only that this incident isn't evidence of a pure **** up.

[Blzer]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

Agree with everything else, but the bold is going a bit far. Really have no idea what the guy is, only that this incident isn't evidence of a pure **** up.

I'm not saying the guy is a saint, but I doubt he left the child in the car because he was bored if you know what I'm saying.

He has two older children, and now they'll be without a father. I just can't help but feel bad for the situation right now is all. You'd think they'd be better off with him than without him, though we unfortunately can't say the same for the seven year old due to this happening.

[NDAlum]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

This might be a tangent...

But why is he dropping two kids off at daycare and then taking a 7 month old child back home?

[AUChase]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

This might be a tangent...

But why is he dropping two kids off at daycare and then taking a 7 month old child back home?

Just speculation of course,but I know before my sister pulled my niece and nephew from daycare, they couldn't go if they were sick.

[Antec]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

There are too many explanations to count.

To name a few - He could be dropping off the 7 month old with grandparents/other relative who want to see their new grandchild/nephew/etc; could want the older kids to socialize and make friends; might not want infant to be in a germ infested environment like day care; could not be up to taking care of all 3 at once (obviously he wasn't up to taking care of just 1); his typical day care doesn't take infants and he hasn't found a new one.

[NDAlum]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

Just speculation of course,but I know before my sister pulled my niece and nephew from daycare, they couldn't go if they were sick.

If the infant was sick and he left the infant in the car that's even worse!

IMO it could be the worst case scenario too...dad just said "I don't want three kids" any more. Now let me reiterate...I'm not saying I think this DID happen...I am saying it is a possibility.

It happens

He is also pleading not guilty to negligent homicide.

[AUChase]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

There are definitely several possibilities. Its something that likely happens all the time to others. People get lost in their own thoughts and forget some of the most important things.

Hopefully the guy wasn't high, but either way its sad and unfortunate. All we can do is speculate.

[Blzer]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

He is also pleading not guilty to negligent homicide.

I'm not into law, but maybe he spoke to an attorney who said if there is evidence that his child was still alive at the time he called 9-1-1, that maybe he can drop the "homicide" aspect of the negligence. Obviously it would still be more severe than any other negligence case, but when you add homicide to it, shoot...

[Knight165]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

I'm not into law, but maybe he spoke to an attorney who said if there is evidence that his child was still alive at the time he called 9-1-1, that maybe he can drop the "homicide" aspect of the negligence. Obviously it would still be more severe than any other negligence case, but when you add homicide to it, shoot...

The infants death was caused by him...so it is homocide.

I don't know if you're thinking murder, which is a totally different crime.

The question is.....was it accidental....negligent or even criminal(which would likely lead to a murder charge)

M.K.
Knight165

[Burns11]

Re: Help me to understand this news story- father & infant son

There's basically two choices here, it's either an accident or negligent homicide.

It doesn't matter when he called 911 in regards to if the kid was alive or not, maybe in relation to the discovery (like, did he find out the kid was in the car, go out to find the kid out and barely breathing then he waited until the kid stopped breathing hoping he would "wake up" on his own), but in regards to just the state of the child then it doesn't matter.

The fact they arrested him so quick leads me to believe when EMS/police arrived on scene the dad was obviously intoxicated. Usually these are treated as a tragic accident that they investigate further and then leave it to the DA to decide on charges, 2 hours is a quick arrest.