Toddler Dies in Hot Car While Dad Gets Haircut and Drinks at Pub

A Florida father faces serious charges after his 18-month-old son died in a scorching hot car while he spent hours getting a haircut and drinking at a local pub.

Scott Gardner, 33, was arrested on June 19 and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect causing great bodily harm. The heartbreaking incident happened on June 6 in Ormond Beach, where Gardner allegedly left his toddler, Sebastian, alone in a pickup truck for over three hours in blistering heat.

According to investigators, Gardner parked the truck around 11:30 a.m. with the windows slightly down and only a small battery-powered fan for air, reported PEOPLE. There was no air conditioning running. He then headed to Classic Cuts for a haircut before making his way to Hanky Panky’s Lounge, a nearby pub.

Surveillance footage and witness statements show Gardner was at the bar from around noon until at least 2 p.m., drinking multiple alcoholic beverages. At one point, he briefly stepped outside to check on damage to a bartender’s car but never went back to his truck to check on Sebastian.

It wasn’t until 2:40 p.m. that Gardner finally left the pub and drove home. Once there, he called 911 in a panic, saying, “My son’s not breathing. A year and a half. Oh my god. He just had his eyes open.”

But it was too late. Emergency responders arrived quickly but found Sebastian stiff with rigor mortis, a clear sign he had been dead for hours. The toddler was pronounced dead at the hospital at 3:30 p.m. Medical staff recorded his body temperature at over 41°C, meaning the inside of the car had likely reached a deadly 43°C.

After the tragedy, Gardner gave conflicting stories to police before finally admitting what happened. Shockingly, he and his mother then returned to the same pub and stayed until nearly midnight. Witnesses told investigators neither seemed visibly upset, which authorities found deeply troubling.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood didn’t hold back in his condemnation, calling Gardner a “lying sack of s*“ and stressing this was no accident. “There’s no logical reason why this little guy is dead,” he said. “This wasn’t a tragic mistake – this was intentional.”

The investigation continues as police review evidence and interview witnesses. Gardner remains in custody as the community mourns the loss of little Sebastian.

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