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Georgia: Police: Death of two-year-old boy with ‘blue face’ in boiling hot car was not ‘accident’

“Blue-faced” 2-year-old boy Jacob Eliel Vieras tragically died Tuesday night after being left in a boiling hot car “for an extended period of time,” according to Cobb County police. Police believe his death was not an accident.

Jacob Eliel Vieras. (Photo credit: Davis-Struempf Funeral Home & Crematory)
Jacob Eliel Vieras. (Photo credit: Davis-Struempf Funeral Home & Crematory)

Police responded to the unprecedented report just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday when they found the baby “blue-faced” after being exposed to the extreme conditions in the sweltering car. Although they immediately rushed her to the hospital for help, the toddler tragically died.

A GoFundMe page set up by a family friend to arrange Jacob’s funeral described the toddler’s death as an “accident.” He leaves behind his parents, Jose Noel Vieras and Jessica Mejia, his siblings, Jaylin Vieras, and his grandparents, Jose Marcos Mejia, Elvira Chacon, Jose Francisco Vieras and Maria Paula Hernandez, according to Davis-Struempf Funeral Home & Crematory.

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“My brother Noel just lost his two-year-old son in an accident and the family had no insurance to bury him,” the fundraiser said without further explanation.

“I ask and pray that people here can help raise the money for the family. It is a very difficult time for them. He was an incredibly open-minded boy who loved his father very much.”

According to The Mirror US, a memorial service following Jacob’s death was held on Saturday at the Iglesia Pentecostal Roca de Salvacion.

Where are the investigations leading?

Police have not released any further details about the ongoing investigation. Although the case is still in its early stages, officers claimed there is no evidence that baby Jacob was accidentally left in the car. It is not yet known whether charges will be filed in connection with the incident.

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“My only job is to express our condolences to the family, friends, neighbors and everyone affected by this tragedy. We need some time to sort this out before we really know what happened,” said Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer.

Another similar infant death was reported

This tragic report of an infant’s death comes just days after the arrest of a Florida woman who allegedly left her two-year-old grandchild in an unattended, sweltering car while she was out shopping. Elena Grady, 63, was ultimately charged with child neglect resulting in bodily harm.

Publix store managers found the child alone in the parking lot and reported the case. Volusia County Sheriff’s officials responded to the call around 3 p.m.

They later posted on Facebook that the child “appeared lethargic” and was trapped in the car, which happened to be “parked in the blazing sun, there was no shade, the engine was not running, and the windows were slightly open.”