VERO BEACH — A 5-month-old infant that was found dead in a carseat of an SUV Thursday died of heat exhaustion, the medical examiner’s office said Friday afternoon. Vero Beach Police spokesman John Morrison said that the baby probably died within an hour and a half given the 120- to 130-degree in the SUV the child had been left in.According to Officer Morrison, the boy’s mother, Stephanie Werking, of Sebastian, forgot that her baby was in the back seat of the SUV when she arrived to work at 8:30 a.m. She told authorities during an interview Thursday night that she was supposed to drop the child, Gannon, off at daycare but forgot.The incident, a first for the Vero Beach Police Department in recent memory, occurred in at 1717 Indian River Boulevard. Officers responded to the parking lot of the complex, which includes the First United Bank, shortly after 5 p.m. after a motorist called 911. Authorities found the child dead inside the vehicle and the child’s mother, Stephanie Werking, hysterical.
Officer John Morrison said that the boy’s parents, Stephanie and Jason Werking, whose ages were not released, were interviewed at the police station Thursday evening. The couple has a 5-year-old son. Officer Morrison declined to comment on whether the 5-year-old had been dropped off at daycare, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Morrison said that the mother arrived for work around 8:30 a.m. She went to her SUV just before 5 p.m. and saw the child inside. A passing motorist noticed the visibly upset woman and called 911.
Morrison added that the baby had been left in the vehicle all day until his mother discovered him.
He said that as more information becomes available, he would release it. No charges have been filed as the investigation continues. Once the police department concludes its investigation, the report will be forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office to determine whether or not charges will be filed.
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