Hannah Faith Cormier (Jeff Davis Parish)

This tragic event culminated in the sentencing of the 33-year-old mother to five years in prison for the untimely death of her daughter, whose name has not been disclosed publicly. The sentencing was confirmed by the Jeff Davis Parish District Attorney’s Office.

On that fateful day, August 13, 2024, Cormier left her baby in the car for approximately two hours while she worked at the fast-food restaurant located in Jennings, a town in western Louisiana. Temperatures that day soared into the low 90s, with the heat index making it feel even hotter at around 106 degrees, as reported by local Fox and NBC affiliate KADN. Inside the car, the temperature was recorded at a deadly 140 degrees.

The infant was rushed to the hospital but tragically succumbed to the extreme heat, passing away the following day. Initially, Cormier faced charges of second-degree murder, underscoring the severity of the situation. This devastating case is a sobering reminder of the perils of leaving children unattended in vehicles, especially during hot weather conditions.

The girl was rushed to the hospital, where she died the next day.

Cormier initially faced a second-degree murder charge.

“The situation wasn’t a case of she just forgot the baby in the car,” Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes told KADN at the time. “That’s what brought us to charging her.”

Semmes said Cormier “intentionally” drove the girl to work. She didn’t have “intent to do harm” but her actions caused the girl’s death, Semmes told KADN.

A grand jury indicted Cormier on a charge of negligent homicide in October 2024. She pleaded no contest to the charge in July. Prosecutors were seeking between five and 10 years in prison. The sentence was enhanced because the girl was under the age of 10.

“The death of any child is heartbreaking and losing this 10-month-old baby has deeply affected our whole community,” District Attorney Lauren Heinen said in a statement. “No sentence can bring her back or take away the pain everyone feels. This was a difficult case with tragic circumstances, but every child deserves to be protected. We will continue to stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves.”