A tragic incident in York County, Virginia has left a baby and a dog dead after they were left locked inside a hot car for several hours. The caregiver responsible, 40-year-old Kristen Danielle Graham, has been arrested on charges of child neglect and animal cruelty.
According to the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, the arrest took place on the evening of September 12, 2023. An investigation is currently underway, and the cause of death is being determined by the medical examiner’s office.
The incident came to light when an elderly man entered an emergency room in Newport News and reported a deceased child in his car outside. Upon investigation, the medical staff discovered a black trash bag in the vehicle containing the baby. The child has been identified as 11-month-old Myrical Wicker.
The caretaker, Kristen Danielle Graham, had been looking after the baby for approximately two days. It was revealed that the baby’s mother is only 17 years old. According to Sheriff Ron Montgomery, Graham had been regularly caring for the child for extended periods of time.
On the morning of September 12, Graham received a phone call from a friend asking her to bring cigarettes to a residence in Newport News. The friend was caring for an elderly man there. Graham proceeded to take the baby and a small dog in the back of her vehicle and drove to a 7-Eleven, where she bought cigarettes and a bottle of apple juice.
She then went to the friend’s location and stayed for a while. Evidence suggests that Graham returned to her residence in York County around 8 a.m. She left the baby and the dog inside the car by rolling up the windows and turning off the engine. It was only later, around 2-2:30 p.m., when she received a phone call and discovered the deceased baby upon checking on her.
Law enforcement promptly arrested Graham, and she is currently in custody at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail as of September 13. The charges against her may be elevated to homicide depending on the results of the child’s autopsy.
Sheriff Montgomery expressed the impact of such a tragic loss on the community, stating, These are not typical situations that we deal with in York County. When you do come across the death of a child, it affects everyone. He emphasized the need for loved ones to cherish and protect children, adding, We all go home and hug our kids and our grandkids a little tighter after something like this happens.
The investigation into this heartbreaking incident continues as authorities work to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths of the baby and the dog.
