The daughter of a Mississippi police officer was found dead after she was left for hours in her mom’s patrol car, authorities said.
The officer, Cassie Baker of Long Beach, left daughter Cheyenne Hyer, 3 in the car for four hours after ending her patrol shift Friday morning and visiting another officer’s home, according to WLOX.
When emergency officials reached the scene, Cheyenne was unresponsive, according to the Post. Paramedics reportedly attempted to save the girl for 40 minutes, but she was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Long Beach Police Chief Wayne McDowell told WLOX he was “shocked” and “devastated.”
“As you can imagine, something that I really can’t see any excuse for,” he said.
The department initially suspended both Barker and the officer she was visiting, Clark Ladner, but they were both terminated as of Tuesday, the Washington Post reports.
Barker remains hospitalized after the incident and is reportedly dealing with trauma of the death of her daughter. Cheyenne’s father, Ryan Hyer, set up a GoFundMe page to pay for her burial.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- How Far Trump Would Go
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
- Why Your Breakfast Should Start with a Vegetable
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com