Child found dead in car outside Salisbury VA, officials say

SALISBURY, N.C. — A 2-year-old girl was found dead inside a car Thursday at the W.A. Hefner VA Medical Center, officials said.

The mother of that child works at the VA, officials told Channel 9.

The VA police received a call from an employee who saw the child in a vehicle behind building 7 at the hospital, and police were called to the scene at 4:37 p.m.

Police forcibly entered the black Chevrolet passenger car and retrieved the child, who was strapped in her car seat.

CPR was administered until firefighters and EMS arrived, but the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials are trying to figure out what exactly happened and how long the little girl was in the car.

Investigators are in the process of interviewing the family and other workers at the hospital.

The VA told Channel 9 there isn’t a nursery on campus and had no idea why the child was brought there. The hospital said it is cooperating with the police investigation.

“Parents out there, check your vehicle,” said Captain Sheila Lingle with the Salisbury Police Department. “Check the back seat if you have a child before you get out of the car.”

Lingle said the girl’s body will be taken the medical examiner’s office so officials can determine an exact cause of death.

The district attorney’s office will then determine whether any charges should be filed in the case.

Cox Media Group