NJ man charged in hot car death; authorities say legal guardian forgot child was in car

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Monday, September 16, 2019
Legal guardian charged after toddler dies in hot car in NJ
Legal guardian charged after toddler dies in hot car in NJ. Jim Gardner has more on Action News at 6 p.m. on September 16, 2019.

CAMDEN, New Jersey -- The Camden County Prosecutor's Office has filed charges after a young girl died in a hot car last month.

It happened on August 16 around 3:38 p.m. in the parking lot of the Lindenwold PATCO station.

Authorities say they found an unresponsive 22-month-old girl inside a minivan. Crews tried to resuscitate the child but were unsuccessful.

On Monday, authorities announced charges against the child's legal guardian, 60-year-old Shelton Shambry.

Authorities say Shambry put the child in the vehicle just prior to 6:30 a.m. that morning and forgot that the child was in the vehicle.

The medical examiner ruled the manner of death to be accidental.

Shambry was charged with fourth-degree abuse and neglect. Shambry was released on a summons.