Family identifies 17-month-old girl found dead in Lee County hot car as investigation continues

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — The Lee County Sheriff's Office is conducting an active death investigation after a 17-month-old girl was found dead inside a hot car Tuesday afternoon. 

Deputies responded on Tuesday at around 5 p.m. to a report of a deceased child in a vehicle located in the 7800 block of College Parkway, just outside a local church.

According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the child was a 17-month-old girl. The family has identified the child as baby Gracie.

The child's mother said she has been involved in an ongoing custody dispute and alleged the child was supposed to be under the supervision of another person at the time of the incident.

"She was a princess, that was her princess themed room," her mother said while showing pictures of baby Gracie. "Here's her daddy, her daddy loves her very much, we all do," she said through tears as she pointed through more pictures.

At the time deputies responded, the temperature in Fort Myers was about 90 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

The investigation remains ongoing, and deputies said they are working with the State Attorney's Office.

WINK Investigates reporter Ryan Kruger spoke with the church's pastor at the scene.

Pastor Raphael Felix said the child who died was not one of the students who attends the church, and the death did not happen in their buildings. Felix said he and his church members are relying on their faith to get through this tragedy.

"We are extremely heartbroken right now, as a community. We are praying. We are in deep grief for this tragedy that did happen," Felix said. "It did not happen inside of any of our church and school buildings. It did not happen with any of our students. This doesn't mean that we are not in deep pain and grief. We are following the ongoing investigation, and we need to respect the information that comes out of the investigation."

According to Kids and Car Safety, a national organization dedicated to protecting kids, July is the deadliest month for children being left in hot cars.

This is the 15th hot car death being investigated so far this year and the fifth in Florida. Four of the Florida cases have happened in the last five weeks.

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