Aunt remains jailed in boy's heat death

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New information has been released in the tragic death of an Albuquerque toddler.

Police say the 2-year-old’s aunt, a 19-year-old employee of an Albuquerque day care center, is in jail Monday. The say she forgot her nephew in a car seat for hours Monday in the daycare center parking lot.

A police report shows it was 92 degrees Fahrenheit outside Monday, and the boy was left in the car for more than eight hours.

The incident happened at the Precious Moments learning center in northwest Albuquerque.

For now, Sandra Rodriguez-Miramontes, 19, is charged with child abuse resulting in death, but police say that could change.

An attempt to have her released from jail to her family failed when she made her first court appearance Tuesday.

"It's a complete accident, and now the family has to deal with not only the loss of a son and a nephew but also a possible criminal prosecution," attorney Ben Sherman told KRQE News 13.

According to the criminal complaint, she has been working at the day care center for the last five months and had been taking her nephew with her.

Monday, she got to work with the child just before 7 a.m. but forgot him inside the car.

Eight hours later, when she went to her nephew's class and asked about him, another day care employee told her the 2-year-old had not been there all day. That is when Rodriguez-Miramontes panicked and realized he had been left in the car.

Another day care employee grabbed the keys, ran to the car and called 911.

The child was eventually pronounced dead at UNM Hospital.

Rodriguez-Miramontes is currently charged with child abuse resulting in death but the charges could change as investigation continues.

They say a grand jury will have the ultimate decision.

On Tuesday a judge set bond at $50,000 for Rodriguez-Miramontes, but because she is on a no-bond immigration hold she won't be getting out of the Metropolitan Detention Center at any price.

APD investigators planned to search the car where the child was found Tuesday afternoon for any other clues.

In the meantime the day care center was back open Tuesday.

No one from the day care center would comment.