A North Carolina mother has pleaded guilty to two counts in connection with her 5-month-old baby’s death.
Prosecutors allege that Taina Sanford of Elizabeth City purposely left her baby child in her car while working.
Sanford pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse charges. A child abuse charge was nolle prosequi, or dropped, with the opportunity for prosecutors to refile.
In May 2023, prosecutors claimed Sanford left the infant in her car while working at an Amazon warehouse in Suffolk. According to authorities, Sanford took her infant to Bon Secours Hospital later that day, where he was pronounced dead.
Detectives said during a court hearing in November 2023 that when asked about the circumstances surrounding her baby’s death, Sanford changed her tale many times.
During the trial, video footage showed Sanford heading to her car about 9:30 a.m. and getting inside before returning to the building at 10:30 a.m. Just after 2:30 p.m., the footage showed Sanford walking to her car again. At this point, Suffolk Police Detective Heather Linville testifies that Sanford races out of the parking lot on his way to the hospital.
Linville stated that after confronting Sanford with the video, Sanford informed officers she had her son in the car and checked on him during her first break, changing his diaper and attempting to feed him. Sanford informed the police that during her second break, she discovered her kid motionless.
According to prosecutors, an autopsy revealed that the baby died as a result of hyperthermia, or increased body temperature. Security video shows Sanford installing a sun screen in the car.
According to the defense, Sanford told authorities that she checked on the infant, changed his diaper, and tried to feed him. The defense emphasized that police stated that the infant “was well cared for.”
The defense claimed Sanford didn’t have a babysitter and didn’t want to lose her job or disappoint her family.
Her sentencing is scheduled for June 27.