Ormond Beach, FL – Scott Gardner, 33, has been arrested on charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect after his 18-month-old son, Sebastian Gardner, died from heatstroke. The toddler was left in the backseat of a hot truck for hours on June 6, while his father spent time in a barber shop and a nearby lounge.
Tragic Incident and Father’s Actions
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO), Scott Gardner left his son inside the vehicle around 11:30 a.m. with the windows rolled down, no air conditioning, and only a small, battery-powered fan aimed at the toddler.
Gardner went to Classic Cuts for a haircut before moving to Hanky Panky’s Lounge, a nearby bar, where he stayed drinking until about 2 p.m.
While at the bar, a customer accidentally backed into a bartender’s car, prompting Gardner to briefly check the damage outside. However, Gardner did not check on his son before returning to the bar for more drinks.
At approximately 2:40 p.m., Gardner left the bar, drove a short distance home, and then called 911, claiming that his son was not breathing. Despite his panic-filled call, investigators later determined that Sebastian had already been dead for one to two hours before the 911 call was made.
The Aftermath and Father’s Behavior
When officers arrived at the scene, they found that the toddler’s body had already entered rigor mortis, indicating that death occurred well before Gardner’s call for help. Sebastian’s body temperature was recorded at over 107 degrees, with medical personnel estimating the temperature inside the vehicle reached 111 degrees. The toddler was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. at the hospital.
In an alarming twist, after his son was declared dead, Gardner returned to Hanky Panky’s Lounge and continued drinking with his mother, staying there until nearly midnight.
Witnesses at the bar noted that Gardner and his mother did not appear to be as distraught as expected given the tragic situation. Investigators also said it appeared that Gardner’s mother was unaware of her grandson’s death at that point.
Gardner’s Confession
Initially, Gardner provided several false accounts of the events leading to his son’s death. However, after further investigation, he eventually confessed to leaving his son in the truck. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood expressed his shock at the events, stating that there was no logical reason for the toddler’s death and calling Gardner “a human piece of garbage” for his actions.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation
Gardner has been taken into custody and charged with aggravated manslaughter and child neglect causing great bodily harm. The case has sparked widespread outrage, as the incident is being described as “intentional” by law enforcement due to the prolonged neglect of the child.
Sheriff Chitwood emphasized the severity of the crime, adding, “We’ve seen it, people forget their kids in the back seat, but this was completely different. This was intentional. That’s what the charges are for.”
