Toddler dies after ‘drunk dad left her in a hot car for nine hours’

A 21-month-old girl was found dead in a hot car in Madisonville, Louisiana, after her father, Joseph Boatman, 32, allegedly left her inside while intoxicated. A family member discovered the unresponsive toddler just before noon, prompting Sheriff Randy Smith to comment on the devastating loss and the dangers of leaving a child in a vehicle during extreme heat. Boatman has been charged with second-degree murder due to his compromised judgment leading to this tragic incident.