An Ohio man confessed to murdering his child, police say after the teen dad intentionally left his 1-year-old son in a hot car for five hours as temperatures soared to 130 degrees inside the vehicle on Thursday.
After 19-year-old Landon Parrott brought his unresponsive son, Kyler, to Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in New Philadelphia, police were informed of the incident.
Parrott initially told detectives that the child had only been in the car for a short time while he wen to the bathroom.
New Philadelphia is located 80 miles south of Cleveland.
The city’s police chief, Michael Goodwin, said in a statement that: ‘During the initial investigation the detectives found inconsistent information being given by the father.’
Goodwin said in the statement that after being confronted with evidence, Parrott ‘confessed to detectives what had happened to his son.’
Kyler pictured with his parents, Vanessa and Landon, shortly after his birth in June 2021
The city’s police chief, Michael Goodwin, said in a statement that: ‘During the initial investigation the detectives found inconsistent information being given by the father’
Parrott is facing charges of murder, two counts of endangering children and involuntary manslaughter
Parrott initially told detectives that the child had only been in the car for a short time while he wen to the bathroom
According to Parrott’s Facebook page, he is from Mustang, Oklahoma. He has been married to Kyler’s mother since June 2021
Investigators obtained video showing that Parrott left his apartment with the child at 8:30 am and was not seen again until 1:50 pm.
The statement went on to say: ‘During the interview it appears that this was not a matter of forgetting the child but was a deliberate act so as the child would not be a disturbance while in the house.’
In an interview with Fox8, Capt. Ty Norris of the New Philadelphia Police Department said: ‘We estimate that would’ve made the interior of the car about 130 degrees.’
During his interview with investigators, Parrott said that he was aware of the dangers of leaving children in hot cars but that he did not want to be disturbed.
Norris also said that the child’s mother, Vanessa, was at work when the tragic incident unfolded.
He added: ‘We estimate that would’ve made the interior of the car about 130 degrees and this child was in there strapped into a car seat with no fluids, no air conditioning, nothing.’
Norris went on: ‘Heartbreaking. It’s heartbreaking to see this unfold before your eyes… This is about this poor child and this poor mother who was just trying to work and pay bills and finding justice for both of them.’
According to Parrott’s Facebook page, he is from Mustang, Oklahoma. He has been married to Kyler’s mother since June 2021. In the intro section of his page, Parrott wrote: ‘Live like you are dying.’
On her Facebook page, Vanessa posted a photo of Kyler with the caption: ‘Mommy loves you so much. Fly high my sweet baby boy. #justiceforkyler.’
It’s not clear when the couple moved to Ohio. Vanessa writes on her Facebook page that she moved to Oklahoma City around the time she married her child’s father.
According to Facebook posts, Landon and Vanessa Parrott were married in June 2021 shortly prior to the child’s birth and shortly after his graduation from high school
On her Facebook page, Vanessa posted a photo of Kyler with the caption: ‘Mommy loves you so much. Fly high my sweet baby boy. #justiceforkyler’
A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help the family to pay for medical costs. The goal of the page is $5,000.
Kyler’s online obituary says that he ‘will be remembered for his sweet disposition and gentle way with animals, even at such a young age, and for his enthusiasm for his best friend Mickey Mouse.’
The tribute goes on to say that Kyler’s funeral will be held in a private with a more public celebration to follow. In lieu of flowers, mourners ask to donate to Kyler’s mother to help with ongoing expenses.
While his paternal grandparents wrote in a joint Facebook post: ‘Justice will be served, but the purpose of this is to bring everyone’s attention to the existence of Kyler Phillip Allen Parrott.’
The post went on: ‘Kyler was an unexpected surprise who immediately changed our world in the best way, from the very beginning. We saw his mother, Vanessa Parrott’s belly grow while he was getting ready to make his grand appearance.’
It continued: ‘I wish I could express the loss that has occurred. He was such an active baby, always so curious. And yes, he enjoyed jamming out to Britney with me during his bath time.’
‘We want the world to stop and pay attention to him, to know the name Kyler right now. Not what happened. Right now is about him… look at him… know he was here,’ his grandparents wrote in their heartbreaking post.
Since 1998, nearly 1,000 children have died of heatstroke after being left in cars in the US, according to Noheatstroke.org
The child’s grandparents also said that the paternal grandparents ‘are also in close communication with Vanessa Parrott. She is Kyler’s mother and our friendship has developed even further through this. Regardless of what anyone thinks they know… they don’t.’
Parrott is facing charges of murder, two counts of endangering children and involuntary manslaughter.
Online records show that Parrott is in custody in Tuscarawas County Jail after being booked on Friday and is being held on a $250,000 bond.
Since 1998, nearly 1,000 children have died of heatstroke after being left in cars in the US, according to Noheatstroke.org. Around half of those were because the child was accidentally left in the car.
The website says that in 2022 alone, 22 children have died as a result of being left in hot cars.