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2-year-old boy found dead in parked car in Lawrence, Kansas

Lawrence Police
Posted at 6:35 AM, Aug 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-12 19:48:58-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A toddler was found dead in an unattended car Sunday evening in Lawrence, Kansas, police said.

Officers were called to the 3300 block of Iowa Street just after 5:30 p.m., where they found a 2-year-old boy who had been left in the parked car.

Medical personnel on the scene declared the toddler dead. He was identified as Devonte Lashawn Turner.

Investigators are in touch with the family. The boy was not with his parents, but was under the care of other family members at the Easy Living mobile home park.

It was not immediately clear how long the child had been left in the car.

The cause of death for the child has not been confirmed, but police said heat may be a factor. The high temperature in Lawrence on Sunday was 89 degrees, with heat index values between 100 and 105 degrees.

“As those involved heal from this loss, our thoughts are with everyone who was affected by this event. Anytime we lose a citizen of our city it’s tragic, but that tragedy is always compounded when it involves a child,” Lawrence Police Chief Gregory Burns Jr., said.

Police said Monday that no arrests had been made and the investigation was continuing.

According to Kids and Cars, 32 children have died in hot cars nationwide this year.

The Hot Cars Act was introduced in 2017 and would require all new cars built to have a child alert system in place.

Severl car makers, including Kia and Hyundai, already have the technology in place.