Two-year-old found dead in vehicle, guardian charged in Amherst County

AMHERST COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)- Investigators with the Amherst County Sheriff’s Department said a two-year-old child has died after being left in a vehicle for hours.

According to the press release, deputies responded to the Chestnut Academy day care on South Amherst Drive at 4:40 p.m. Thursday and started life-saving measures on an unresponsive two-year-old. Medics took over when they arrived on scene. The child was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital where they were later pronounced dead.

Deputies determined the custodian of the child had failed to drop the child at the day care in the morning. According to investigators, the custodian took the child to his workplace and left the child in the back seat of the vehicle unattended. Deputies said the custodian returned to the day care in the afternoon to pick up the child. However, workers at the day car then told the custodian the child was not dropped off in the morning.

The custodian, identified as Brian Dalton, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and abuse and neglect of children.

“There is no evidence to prove this was an intentional act,” according to the press release.