Lakeland, Florida – Joel and Jazmine Rondon, both 33 years old and residents of Winchester Estates Circle, have been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, a first-degree felony, by detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The charges stem from a tragic incident in which the couple left their 18-month-old toddler inside a car overnight upon returning home from a night of partying. The child, who was strapped into her car seat, tragically succumbed to the extreme heat the following day.
The incident occurred on July 4, 2023, when the couple attended a Fourth of July celebration in Lakeland with three children under the age of 9. They did not arrive home until approximately 3:00 a.m. on July 5th, after consuming alcohol and marijuana at the party.
Upon their return, Jazmine instructed Joel to bring the female toddler inside while she took the other two children indoors. At that time, Joel noticed that one of the car doors was open. Assuming that Jazmine had already retrieved the toddler, he proceeded to unload items from the car and bring them inside their residence.
When he went back outside, he observed that all four car doors were closed, leading him to believe that Jazmine had taken care of the toddler. Without confirming with each other, both Joel and Jazmine went to bed.
Joel woke up around 10:00 a.m. the next morning and spent approximately an hour preparing for work. Around 11:00 a.m., he asked one of the children to check on the baby in the bedroom. It was then that Joel learned that the toddler was not in the bedroom. He searched the house but was unable to locate her. Eventually, he ventured outside and peered into the car, which was parked in the driveway under direct sunlight. Inside the vehicle, he discovered the lifeless toddler still fastened in her car seat. Panicked, he brought the child and the car seat inside the house before he and Jazmine rushed her to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.
Despite efforts to revive her and cool her body down, medical professionals were unable to save her, and she was pronounced deceased. At 2:42 p.m., her internal body temperature was recorded at 104.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Law enforcement was subsequently notified, and they assumed control of the investigation.
Later that evening, both Joel and Jazmine underwent drug screenings conducted by the Department of Children and Families. The results showed that Joel tested positive for methamphetamine, marijuana, and alcohol, while Jazmine tested positive for marijuana and alcohol.
Following an autopsy, the cause of the toddler’s death was determined to be hyperthermia caused by being left inside the car. The manner of death was ruled as homicide. On July 6, 2023, Joel and Jazmine were apprehended and subsequently booked into the Polk County Jail.
The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with leaving children unattended in hot vehicles, particularly during periods of extreme heat. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is urging parents and caregivers to exercise caution and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of children.