Florida dad charged with first-degree felony murder in toddler's hot truck death

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Scott Garner, the alleged suspect, was indicted – or charged – with first-degree murder. A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that he had been convicted. To be clear, he was recently arrested and charged. His case is still working through the court system.

A grand jury has indicted a Florida dad with first-degree murder in the death of his 18-month-old son, who was left in a hot truck for hours while his dad allegedly got a haircut and grabbed drinks at a nearby bar.

Scott Garner, 33, now faces charges of first-degree felony murder. He was previously booked into jail on charges of aggravated child abuse and neglect of a child, the State Attorney's Office 7th Judicial Circuit of Florida confirmed Wednesday.

Scott Allen Gardner is facing a first-0degree murder charge. (Credit: Volusia Sheriff's Office)

What happened?

The backstory:

According to the VSO, 18-month-old Sebastian was "left helpless" in a hot truck for more than three hours while his dad got a haircut and grabbed a drink.

The alleged incident took place on Friday, June 6, at Classic Cuts in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Gardner arrived to get his haircut around 11:30 a.m. before then entering Hanky Panky's Lounge, where he began to drink beer and take shots. During this time, Chitwood said Gardner left Sebastian in the back seat of the car, which was not on, with no windows open and only a small mini fan pointing his way.

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Officials say Gradner stayed at the bar from noon to about 2:40 p.m. During that time, officials believe the truck reached temperatures of up to 111 degrees.

Around 2:44 p.m., deputies say Gardner then drove the dead toddler to his mom's house, where he called 911. Officials said Sebastian was dead for an hour or two before the 911 call was made.

Both the Ormond Beach Police Department and the Volusia Sheriff's Office responded to the incident. By the time Sebastian arrived at the hospital around 2:58 p.m., Chitwood said his temperature was over 107 degrees, and the toddler was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m.

Officials say Gardner then went back to the bar with his mom, where they drank until almost midnight.

Sebastian was only 18 months old. (Credit: Volusia Sheriff's Office)

Sheriff Chitwood: 'This father is a human piece of garbage, and he's a lying sack of s***'

What they're saying:

Chitwood said Gardner later admitted to the allegations while being interviewed. Although Gardner originally said he left Sebastian in the car with the windows open, he also admitted to lying.

"What they (first responders) saw was horrific," Chitwood said. "This father is a human piece of garbage, and he's a lying sack of s***. He's exactly where he belongs — behind bars. I don't think there's a penalty on Earth that would ever fit for the crime committed here. My hope for him is that every night when he closes his eyes, and every morning when he opens his eyes, his son Sebastian asks him, ‘Dad, why did you do this to me?' There is no reason for this little boy to be dead."

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Scott Allen Gardner was arrested on Thursday. (Credit: Volusia Sheriff's Office)

"The death of a child is a senseless, tragic thing," Volusia investigators said. "This was very preventable."