Mother charged months after child locked in hot car dies

VEYO, Utah (ABC4) — The mother of a 3-year-old that died after being left in a hot car in September has been charged with child abuse homicide.

Celine Ashley Switlick, 29, has been charged with one count of child abuse homicide with criminal negligence (second-degree felony) after accidentally leaving her child in a hot car.

Switlick’s three-year-old son was found deceased inside a vehicle outside her apartment on September 1, 2025, by deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). According to an investigation by WCSO, Switlick was the driver and had a previously established role to remove her son from his car seat.

On September 1, 2025, Switlick, her husband, and their two kids returned home. Court documents indicate that Switlick’s husband removed and brought their older child inside their apartment. Switlick followed less than a minute after.

Their younger son was left inside the vehicle, for approximately five hours, with interior vehicle temperatures exceeding 130 degrees Fahrenheit. WCSO responded to the scene around 6:15 p.m. and attempted life-saving measures, but the three-year-old unfortunately died.

Further investigation revealed that Switlick had opportunities “that should have triggered her awareness that [her son] remained in the car,” according to court documents. Throughout the afternoon, she walked the dog past the vehicle and served lunch for the family. Her husband had also reportedly commented that their son had been sleeping for a long time.

In conversations with law enforcement, Switlick told them that it was her fault. She allegedly told them “I forgot”, “I did it, it’s my fault” and “I deserve to be charged.”

At the time of the accident, Chief Guthrie with the Northwest Fire Special Services said, “It’s very impactful… it’s devastating to lose a child like that. And it just seems… it’s very, very difficult. You know, mistakes happen, but still, to lose a child in that way is very, very difficult.”

He also emphasized the danger of leaving kids unattended inside vehicles, “It doesn’t take long. You know, it could be 92 degrees outside and 135 inside of a car and it doesn’t take very long. So, it’s something to always be mindful of.”

While she has not been taken into custody, Switlick’s initial court appearance has been scheduled for December 9, 2025, in the St. George District Court.