Man with special needs dies in hot car after allegedly being left alone by caretaker for hours
A man with special needs died after his caretaker allegedly left him alone in a hot car for a long period of time.
According to a report by PEOPLE, 55-year-old caretaker Rogers Lee Inge Jr. of North Carolina called Johnston County 911 Communications (JCSO) and allegedly confessed to them that he had caused the death of a person in his care, identified as Dontarious Batts, after leaving him alone in his vehicle.
The dispatcher told Inge to pull over at a nearby fire department where emergency medical service, fire personnel, and deputies with the JCSO met him.
Inge, who works for the Universal Health Care and has been placed in charge of Batts, explained that he had brought the patient to work with him earlier that day at his second job as a janitor at a high school.
According to him, while he had indeed left Batts by himself in the vehicle with the windows up and the engine off at 8:00 in the morning, he came to check up on him two hours later and found that he was doing just fine.
After finishing his work at the high school, he went back to his vehicle around 4:17 p.m., but Batts was no longer breathing.
"It's my fault," Inge said according to a 911 audio obtained by WRAL. "I didn’t think it was that hot today. I didn’t check on him. I forgot. I was working."
Following the incident, a GoFundMe page has been organized to support Batts' family after their tragic loss.
Tierra Blackston and Tiquana Bradberry, who started the fund, wrote, "We are heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of our little brother Donte. Words can’t express the hurt I feel writing this because it all still feel so unreal."
"On August 20, 2024 my brother Dontarius Batts (Donte) who was autistic and non-verbal was left in a hot vehicle by his caregiver with the engine off and the windows up between the hours of 8 am until a little after 4 pm. During this incredibly difficult time, we are reaching out for support to help cover the unforeseen expenses that have arisen for my mother as she grieves," they added.
They highlighted that any contribution would be greatly appreciated as they "navigate this devastating loss and honor his memory."
Around $$4,767 (P269,156) out of their goal of $5,000 (P282,312) has been raised so far.
Inge has been taken to the Johnston County jail, where he is being held under $35,000 (P1.9 million) bond. He is also no longer an employee of Johnston County Public Schools.