A foster mother in North Carolina faces charges following the death of a 7-month-old girl who was allegedly left in a hot car on a 90-degree day, police said.
Djuna Bostick is charged with involuntary manslaughter and negligent child abuse after the infant was found unresponsive in her minivan in Hamlet, according to court documents.
Police responded to a medical emergency call on Charlotte Street around 6:04 p.m., court documents show. They note that officers found the baby unresponsive and immediately started life-saving efforts. The infant was rushed to a hospital but later died "due to excessive heat," according to the court documents.
Bostick remains at Richmond County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Police say the investigation is ongoing.
MORE: 1-year-old girl dies after being left in hot car for 9 hours; dad arrested for murderThis tragedy adds to the growing number of hot car deaths in recent years. According to advocacy group Kids and Car Safety, there were 29 deaths in 2023, 41 in 2024, and six so far in 2025.
The organization reports that these cases rarely lead to harsh punishments. They say 50% of hot car deaths don't result in convictions, while 31% end in convictions of varying degrees. The remaining 19% of cases are either pending or have unknown outcomes.
Most of these deaths are unintentional and don't involve abuse, neglect or substance use, experts say.
Janette Fennell, founder and president of Kids and Car Safety, said carmakers should install occupant detection technology in all vehicles.
"As we continue our advocacy, children are still dying -- week after week. It's beyond heartbreaking," she said in a statement to ABC News. "Automakers don't need to wait for a final regulation. They have the power -- and the responsibility -- to add this life-saving technology to their vehicles today."
MORE: Hot car dangers: How to keep your kids safe this summerSafety experts from Kids and Car Safety recommend these critical steps to protect children: