Baby in Foster Care Dies After Being Left in Hot Van in Jackson Co.

Reported By:  Doug Evans   Edited By:  Leigha Baugham

Last Edited: Thursday, 04 Sep 2008, 12:02 AM EDT

JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. (MyFOX Atlanta) – Investigators in Jackson County said an infant was left in a hot mini-van, while the girl's foster mother was inside the home taking a nap.  The child died.  The baby was in DFACS care and had been recently placed in the foster home.

Investigators are now waiting on the autopsy report and said they will present the case to the Jackson County district attorney.

The foster mother is under investigation for the death of the 9-month-old girl.  Investigators identified the woman as 29-year-old Wendy Osborne.

Osborne told police that she accidentally left the infant in the van for more than two hours.

Investigators said the child was placed in foster care with Osborne and her husband.  The couple was also caring for two other girls, ages 15 and 16.  The couple also has two adopted 3-year-olds.

Osborne said she got home around 2:00 p.m. and brought the 3-year-olds inside for nap.  Around 5:00 pm., the two teenagers asked the woman about the infant.  The baby was later found in the car seat out in the hot van.

Investigators said they notified the child's biological parents about the baby.  Police said the young couple from Jefferson, Georgia was devastated.

Investigators would not say why the child was in DFACS care in the first place.

No charges had yet been filed as of Wednesday night.


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