A Wyoming father allegedly told investigators he had "just put the baby to sleep" — even as deputies discovered his 1-year-old son locked inside his hot Cadillac Escalade, sweating and crying in a rear-facing car seat.
Jhadon Robert Michael Curry was arraigned Thursday on one count of misdemeanor child endangerment stemming from the June 16 incident at his Cheyenne home, according to court records reviewed by CrimeBytes.
Background
Laramie County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene shortly after 8:30 p.m. following a report that an impaired man was about to drive away with a child in the vehicle, Cowboy State Daily reported. Upon arrival, Curry reportedly insisted that his infant son was sleeping on a bed inside the residence.
Investigators searched the home and found only an empty crib in the room where Curry claimed the baby lay sleeping.
The Investigation
Deputies eventually located the child inside Curry's locked Cadillac Escalade with all windows up. According to a probable cause affidavit, the boy was "sweating and crying" and felt "very hot to the touch, like he had a fever."
Even after deputies showed him the child in the vehicle, Curry allegedly continued to deny the baby was in the car.
"He is in there! I just put him to sleep!" Curry reportedly shouted at law enforcement. "He is in the house! What are you talking about?"
When deputies finally got Curry to unlock the SUV — he apparently did not have his keys on his person — prosecutors say Curry expressed apparent shock.
"Man, he's in my car?" the defendant allegedly said, according to the affidavit.
Investigators determined the child had been left inside the locked vehicle for just over 30 minutes. The outside temperature was approximately 75 degrees when deputies arrived. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, interior vehicle temperatures can rise 20 degrees within 10 minutes when windows are closed.
Key Takeaways
- Curry allegedly claimed his infant son was "just put to sleep" inside the home while the child remained locked in the hot SUV
- Deputies found the baby sweating and "very hot to the touch, like he had a fever" after searching the residence
- The defendant reportedly denied the child was in the vehicle even after deputies located him
- Curry allegedly told investigators he planned to bring the baby to the child's mother at her workplace for breastfeeding — a claim she denied when questioned
- Interior car temperatures can rise dramatically within minutes, according to safety authorities
What's Next
Curry's arraignment is scheduled for July 31 in Laramie County Court. He remains in custody as the case proceeds.