BROAD BROOK, Conn. — A 1-year-old boy died after being left inside a hot car while his father worked on the family’s strawberry farm, according to police.

The child was discovered unresponsive on August 15 after his father, Kevin Pell, 47, returned to the vehicle and found his son “blue and not breathing,” according to the East Windsor Police Department. Pell called 911 and told the dispatcher that his 1-year-old son might be dead.

“My son might be dead, 1-year-old,” he said, according to WTNH.

The father then appeared to realize the severity of what had happened.

“Oh my god he’s dead,” Pell said. “I think he’s dead.”

Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene and began performing CPR on the child. The boy was rushed to Connecticut Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

Child Was Left Inside Car in Direct Sunlight

According to an arrest warrant obtained by People Magazine, the child had been left inside the vehicle in direct sunlight with all of the windows closed.

The conditions inside the vehicle were described as “not habitable for the child.” Pell initially told the 911 dispatcher that he had not left the vehicle’s air conditioning running.

“The heat, I didn’t have the AC on,” he said during the emergency call.

However, when police arrived, investigators said Pell gave a different account. He reportedly told officers that he had left his son asleep inside the vehicle with the air conditioning running for about an hour.

The conflicting statements became part of the investigation as authorities worked to determine exactly what happened before the child was found.

Father Faces Child Endangerment Charge

Pell was taken into custody following the child’s death and charged with risk of injury to a child. He was later released after posting $1 million bail.

The case could become more serious depending on the findings of the child’s autopsy. Police said additional charges remain possible once investigators receive the results.

Pell appeared in court on Thursday but did not enter a plea, according to People. He is scheduled to return to court on October 16. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue examining the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

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Investigation Continues Into Baby’s Death

The case has raised serious questions about how long the child remained inside the vehicle, the conditions inside the car and what happened while Pell was working on the family’s strawberry farm.

Authorities have not indicated that the investigation is complete, and the final cause and manner of death will be informed by the medical examiner’s findings.

For now, the father faces a child-related criminal charge while investigators await the autopsy results that could determine whether additional charges will be filed.

The tragedy also underscores how quickly temperatures inside parked vehicles can become dangerous, particularly for young children. Even when outdoor conditions may not initially appear extreme, a closed vehicle exposed to sunlight can become dangerously hot. The child’s death remains under investigation, and Pell’s next court appearance is scheduled for October 16.

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