6-Year-Old Girl Strangles Toddler Brother to Death with Seatbelt, and Father Is Charged

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A father of two faces charges after his 6-year-old daughter fatally strangled his 1-year-old son with a seatbelt after the children were allegedly left alone in a car for an hour and a half, according to multiple reports.

Adrian Dreshuan Middleton, 26, was charged with abandoning a child after he turned himself in to police on Monday, according toKHOU11.

The Baytown Police Department and Baytown Municipal Court did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for records.

Middleton allegedly left his children in the car unattended as he shopped at Family Thrift Store on May 20, according to theHouston Chronicle. Middleton reportedly told police that he made sure the kids had air conditioning, a movie, water and food.

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The 6-year-old is reportedly staying with her grandmother.

Middleton claimed to police that he was shopping for 30 to 45 minutes, according toClick2Houston. But the store’s video footage allegedly shows Middleton went shopping for an hour and a half.

Middleton also asserted that the kids were in car seats before saying that he had not brought car seats on the drive.

It was not immediately clear if Middleton has entered a plea or obtained an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

source: people.com