Georgia Mom Charged in Accidental Hot-Car Tragedy Sparks Debate

In Lawrenceville, Georgia, 29-year-old Deja Coleman is charged with second-degree murder after her 17‑month‑old son Daniel died in a locked car from near‑90-degree heat (117 degrees inside the car) while she was at work, with advocates arguing the case reflects an intentional murder charge for an accidental tragedy. The incident underscores how stress, sleep deprivation, and routine changes can trigger memory lapses that cause parents to forget a child in a car, and safety groups urge preventive steps and policy changes to reduce hot-car deaths.