A two-year-old boy who was allegedly left unattended in a car for hours on Martha’s Vineyard has tragically died, authorities confirmed. The child’s babysitter, 41-year-old Aimee Cotton, is now facing a manslaughter charge in connection with his death.
The incident occurred on March 13, when the boy was discovered unresponsive and was airlifted to a Boston hospital for urgent medical care. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois announced.
The timeline of the Babysitter is under scrutiny
Cotton had initially been charged with assault and battery on a child and reckless endangerment before the toddler’s passing. At the time of the incident, she was responsible for the boy, who was from West Tisbury, along with a one-year-old girl. The victim’s mother is a teacher at Oak Bluffs Elementary School.
Cotton called 911 after discovering the boy was not breathing and had turned blue. She initially claimed that she had only left him in the car for 15 minutes. However, police reviewed home security footage, which revealed that the children had been left inside the vehicle for approximately three hours. Under questioning, Cotton admitted that she had left them in the car while she cooked bacon and carried out household chores.
Authorities express condolences
The Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office released a statement following the boy’s death, expressing sympathy for his grieving family. “District Attorney Galibois’s thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the young toddler during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement read. With the upgraded charge of manslaughter, Cotton now faces serious legal consequences as authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s tragic death.
