Scott Allen Gardner, 33, was arrested in Florida following the death of his 18-month-old son, Sebastian. Authorities charged him with aggravated manslaughter of a child and severe child neglect. The heartbreaking incident happened after Sebastian was left alone in a hot vehicle for nearly three hours. Scott reportedly went to get a haircut and then spent time drinking at a nearby bar.
During police questioning, Scott gave inconsistent accounts of the events. Medical teams found Sebastian’s body temperature had reached a deadly 111 degrees. The officer who tried to save Sebastian later arrested Scott at his mother’s house. Body camera footage captured Scott’s arrest, where he exchanged brief words with officers before being taken into custody.
Officials held a press conference revealing grim details. Sheriff Mike Chitwood condemned Scott’s actions, calling him “a human piece of garbage” and confirming his rightful place behind bars. The timeline showed Scott arrived at the barbershop at 11:30 a.m., finished his haircut around noon, then spent the afternoon drinking at Hanky Panky’s Lounge while Sebastian remained trapped in the car.
Scott claimed the car windows were down, but investigators found only a small battery-powered fan inside. He left the bar around 2:40 p.m. and drove home before making a frantic 911 call reporting Sebastian was unresponsive. Sadly, Sebastian was already in rigor mortis upon emergency responders’ arrival. The case has shocked the community, with loved ones raising funds for the family and legal proceedings moving swiftly forward.