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Parents Sue Babysitter After Toddler Dies in Car
5 Feb
Summary
- Babysitter accused of leaving a two-year-old in a car for hours.
- Child died from hypothermia after being left without adequate care.
- Parents filed a civil lawsuit against the babysitter for wrongful death.
A civil lawsuit has been filed by the parents of a two-year-old boy who tragically died after being left in a car on Martha's Vineyard. The parents, Julie and Matthew Rodenbaugh, allege that their babysitter, Aimee Cotton, left their son, Frank, unattended in her vehicle for several hours on March 13, 2025.
According to the lawsuit, Frank was left without adequate clothing, food, or water, resulting in fatal hypothermia and cardiac arrest six days later. The suit further claims Cotton misled first responders about the circumstances of the child's distress, delaying critical medical care.
Cotton, who is also facing a manslaughter charge and has pleaded not guilty, reportedly told police she left the children in the car for only 15 minutes. Surveillance footage, however, indicated the children were in the car for a much longer period. The parents are seeking unspecified damages and have requested a jury trial.
