Published: October 10, 2008 06:15 pm         

BREAKING NEWS: Young boy found dead in SUV

Child apparently left unattended since 8 a.m.

By Tara Kaprowy

staff writer

A 2 1/2-year-old boy is dead after being left in a locked SUV nearly nine hours by his grandmother, Linda Long.

Long found the child, Madison Nose, strapped in his child safety seat in the back seat.

Laurel County Coroner Doug Bowling said he was not certain as to when the child died, but estimated it was sometime around noon.



He is believed to have been left in the car at 8 a.m. He was not found until 4:45 p.m.

According to National Weather Service meteorologlist Pete Geogerian, the temperature in the SUV could have climbed to more than 100 degrees by noon Friday.

The boy was found in an East Sixth Street parking lot commonly used by Saint Joseph-London staff. Walker said Long is an employee at the hospital.

London Police Lt. Stewart Walker said Long was apparently driving to work and “doesn’t normally drive the child.”

Walker would not confirm who found the boy.

As of Friday evening, no charges had been filed against Long. When asked if any charges would be pressed, Walker would not comment. Police were interviewing Long after the incident.

Bowling said cause of death is hyperthermia — defined as the overheating of the body.

Geogerian said the noon temperature at London-Corbin Airport was 72 degrees. He said a vehicle sitting in the sun with the windows up would quickly surpass 100 degrees.

Nose was pronounced dead around 4:45 p.m.

The incident is being investigated by the Major Crimes Task Force and London City Police Department.