A father has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 20-month-old baby girl left in a car died, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told NBC4 Investigates.
Deputies and firefighter-paramedics responded to a call about the baby left in the car, who was not breathing, at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said. The car was in the View Park-Windsor Hills area.
Paramedics pronounced the girl dead at the scene.
Details about a cause of death and how long the baby had been in the car were not immediately available.
The child’s father, identified as 40-year-old Edwin Johnson, was initially arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and child neglect, but later re-booked on suspicion of murder. Bond was set at $2 million.
Jail records showed an initial court date Friday. It was not immediately clear whether he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
The cause and manner of death will be determined by the medical examiner’s office. Law enforcement sources told NBC4 Investigates that investigators believe the baby was left in the car alone, but they are working to determine what the father was doing at the time.
NBCLA attempted to contact family members, but had not received a response Wednesday afternoon. NBCLA also reached out to the county prosecutor’s office for an update on possible charges.
Anyone with information about the case was asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
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