American Fork police say a 9-year-old boy was found dead in a vehicle at a business complex in Utah County on Wednesday. The child was reportedly left at a business that cares for people with intellectual disabilities.
A staff member at Roost Services reportedly placed the child in the car around 11:30 a.m. with the engine turned off, doors closed and windows up, American Fork Police Sgt. Josh Christensen said. When the person returned to the vehicle more than two hours later, the child was not breathing.
The worker called police, who arrived at 42 North and 200 East in American Fork around 1:45 p.m. alongside the American Fork Fire Department and emergency responders. They attempted life-saving measures, but the boy was declared dead at the scene.
“It’s certainly a very horrific and tragic incident,” Christensen said. “We can’t be too vigilant in making sure our children are out of the vehicle.”
Police are investigating why the child was taken to the car to determine if there’s any “criminal element” that led to his death. Christensen said it’s not clear if anyone will face charges.
It’s unknown whether the car belonged to a staff member or Roost Services itself, but Christensen reported that the boy was taken to the facility in that vehicle in the morning.
Roost Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
