Man with special needs dies after caregiver allegedly left him alone in hot car: police
“We are heartbroken over the sudden and unexpected death of our little brother,” said Dontarious Batts’ siblings
Tierra Blackston and Tiquana Bradberry/GoFundMe
Dontarious “Donte” Batts
A North Carolina man with special needs has died after his caregiver allegedly left him alone in a hot car for hours, police said.
The incident was reported around 4:43 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said, according to CBS 17.
The victim was identified as Dontarious Batts, a patient believed to be in his early to mid-20s.
Related: School nurse tried to resuscitate toddler after he was left in hot car. Mother now charged in connection with child’s death
According to the news station, Johnston County’s 911 emergency number received a call from a man later identified as 55-year-old Rogers Lee Inge Jr., who allegedly stated that he was responsible for the death of a person who was in his care and had been left in his vehicle.
During the call, the dispatcher instructed Inge to stop at the fire station at 9039 Cleveland Road in Clayton, where he was met by EMS, firefighters and JCSO officers.
Inge, a Universal Health Care employee who cared for Batts, reportedly told officers he had brought Batts to work with him earlier that day, to his second job at Cleveland High School, where he worked as a janitor, WRAL reported.
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Cleaning equipment — stock image
He reportedly told police he left Batts in the car at 8 a.m. with the windows rolled up and the engine off. He returned to the car around 10 a.m. to check on him, and Batts appeared to be fine.
Inge finished his workday at Cleveland High School, and when he returned to his vehicle at around 4:17 p.m., Batts had died, according to WRAL.
Related: 8-year-old North Carolina girl dies after being left in hot car by her allegedly working mother
In a 911 recording obtained by WRAL, Inge, who was “emotionally distraught,” reportedly said, “It’s my fault.”
“I didn’t think it was that hot today. I didn’t check on him. I forgot. I was working,” he reportedly continued.
ABC 11’s First Alert Weather Team said the temperature in the area reached 27 degrees that day. The news station also pointed to the National Weather Service, which warned that the temperature inside a vehicle parked in the sun could be as much as 10 degrees higher than the outside temperature.
Tom Penpark/Getty
Car in the parking lot — stock image
Following the incident, Tierra Blackston and Tiquana Bradberry started a GoFundMe campaign in Batts’ name.
“We are heartbroken over the sudden and unexpected death of our little brother Donte,” their message began.
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“Words cannot express the pain I feel as I write this because it all still feels so unreal. On August 20, 2024, my brother Dontarius Batts (Donte), who was autistic and non-verbal, was left by his caregiver in a hot vehicle with the engine off and the windows closed between 8 a.m. and just after 4 p.m.,” the siblings continued.
As of Thursday, August 22, Blackston and Bradberry had exceeded their GoFundMe goal of $2,500.
In an article updated Thursday by WRAL, the newspaper reported that Inge was taken to the Johnston County Jail and held on $35,000 bail. He was also no longer employed by Johnston County Public Schools as of Wednesday, August 21.
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