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Zenaida Soriano-Rincon, a 33-year-old mother from Middletown has been charged with second-degree manslaughter following the tragic death of her two-year-old child. The incident occurred on September 19 when Soriano-Rincon allegedly left her child in a hot car for over eight hours while she was at work. The child was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at Garnet Health Medical Center.
The Orange County District Attorney's Office charged Soriano-Rincon with second-degree manslaughter, indicating that while her actions were deemed reckless, there was no intent to harm the child. According to the Times Union, temperatures in the area reached a high of 81 degrees that day, but the interior of a car can become significantly hotter, acting like a greenhouse.
Soriano-Rincon was arrested on November 18 after a two-month investigation. She is currently being held at the Orange County Jail with bail set at $250,000, or a $500,000 bond, or a $1,000,000 partially secured bond, as reported by CBS 6 Albany.
The case has drawn attention to the ongoing issue of children being left in hot cars, a problem that has become more prevalent since child seats were moved to the back of vehicles in the early 1990s. The National Weather Service continues to warn about the dangers of leaving children and pets in cars, especially during warm weather.
As the legal proceedings continue, Soriano-Rincon's attorney has not yet commented on the charges. The community remains shaken by the incident, highlighting the tragic consequences of such oversights. Anyone who needs to talk can call 800-273-8255 no matter the time of day.