S.C. dad whose twin sons died in car outside day care won’t face charges
09/24/2021 12:33 pm PDT
RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (TCD) -- A father who left his twin toddlers in a car outside a day care center will not face charges in their deaths.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott spoke at a press conference Tuesday and explained that after a thorough investigation, they presented the case to the solicitor’s office, who decided not to press charges against the father. Lott called the twins' death a "horrible, tragic accident that occurred."
The 20-month-old twins Bryce and Brayden McDaniel were found dead September 1 in a car outside of Sunshine House Early Learning Academy. Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said at the time the boys had likely been in the car for 9 1/2 hours until their discovery.
According to Lott, the father was "under some intense pressure at work" at the time of his children’s death. Lott said the father “had his mind somewhere else that day” and that he "really believed he dropped the kids off at day care."
During the press conference, Lott described the interview with the father as "one of the most heart-wrenching" he’s seen.
Lott said, "Pure emotion came out. It’s not something you could fake."
Rutherford said in Tuesday’s press conference that the manner of death was ruled an accident and the cause of death was hyperthermia.
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