Comments on: Outrage–Woman Leaves Her Toddler in Car for 8 Hours on Hot Day While at Work, Child Dies, She’s Not Charged

By: bepositive

bepositive — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:54:44 +0000

Its amazing how people are so quick to judge. As a mother, I know how many near misses I have had with my children with everyday accidents that could have been fatal. If any of these accidents had happened, I would have been judged for simply being careless as be seen as a murderer. How many parents out there know what it feels like to have a toddler take off a seat belt in the car while you are driving on a high way because he wants to pick up a toy? Or have you had a toddler hide in the washing machine playing hide and seek? What if it had been switched on by another child? Think of the worst that could have happened if you hadn’t seen them. Why are we so judgemental??? This woman has to live with the guilt for the rest of her life, that is a prison enough. What I would say is, if you don’t have any children, then you have no right to say anything and if you have kids, feel free to judge are for all you can if your child has never had an accident either at home, on a playground or at school which made you think, it could have been worse than that. Stop judging and just be grateful that it never happened to YOU!!!

By: bonnie

bonnie — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:27:13 +0000

i too do not understand how she has not been charged it is an injustice at the very least. don white picks and chooses who he prosecuits according to what political maneuvers he is currently procuring.he will face this in due time not ours mabe but with the higher power karma is undenieable times three!!!

By: Aroha

Aroha — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:01:01 +0000

Sorry people but I disagree completely. I have a set routine every day. My day starts at 7.30am, I get up, I eat breakfast & have a coffee and help my husband make lunches for school. I then go to my office (in my house)and work a solid day from 8.30am to 3.30pm. Hubby gets kids off to school, cleans the house, runs errands and collects kids from school. I get so engrossed in my work, I dont even notice the time. So the kids are running through the house with friends before I’ve even realised that school finishes. Hubby is a housedad, I’m the breadwinner. If hubby had to change the routine & I had to collect the kids it would take a hell of a lot for me to remember to change my routine & go & collect the kids. In fact, I’d have to set several alarms, just one doesn’t work, I’ve been known to be so engrossed in work & not even hear it. So I could almost guarantee that I’d be late collecting the kids. Fortunately, my friends and parents work at the school so I know if it was to ever happen, we have a backup plan & they’ll be safe with family members. But how easy would it be for that simple mistake to be made & the kids to be ‘overlooked’ for want of a better word? In the Slaby case, this is exactly what happened. She wasn’t responsible for dropping the children off, her husband was. He changed his routine & asked her to drop the baby off at childcare, not both children, just the baby. The baby was asleep & the mother realised when she got to childcare that it was too early to drop the child off. So she went back onto her routine for the morning & set a course for school, thinking she’d drop the child off later. Except her mindset was now her normal day, which didn’t include dropping off a child sleeping silently in the back of the car. Yes, it was the worst mistake possible, but to say this was premeditated murder is a bit over the top. God forbid to have a community of people like you who judge without knowing the full story. That mother will pay for the rest of her life, what happened was inexcusable but certainly understandable in my view.

By: JB

JB — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:16:04 +0000

Okay, this is an old case/article but I HAD to comment (even though my comment will probably never be read…I just HAVE to post a comment!

Okay, these are the points I have to make:

1. She had been warned multiple times NOT to leave her baby in the car
2. She BACKED into the parking place so HAD to have seen her child
3. She then goes back out and opens the hatch, the back door before climbing BACK into the vehicle and supposedly STILL doesn’t notice the child
4. Then one of her staff members is late to the morning meeting BECAUSE THEY HAD TO DROP OFF THEIR CHILD AT A BABYSITTER and not only did that not set off bells and whistles and make this mom remember her child but she jumps the staff member for being late
5. And does it not bother anyone else that this person is in charge of watching over children for a living for Pete’s sake?
6. This isn’t an original sin….this has happened before and children have died but they are ALWAYS charged with something…neglect, child endangerment, manslaughter, SOMETHING….HOW in the HECK did this woman walk away scott free?

I’ve heard of cases where the parents were using drugs or drunk and leave the child in the car and they go in and pass out….I can understand that….obviously don’t approve of it and believe they should be charged…but at least it makes more sense.

NOTHING about this makes sense. She HAD to have seen or heard this child during the NUMEROUS times she enters, moves and walks around this vehicle. The very sight of children should have caused her to remember her own. The staff member running late to the morning meeting and stating that she was late because she had to stop at the babysitter’s house….the actions after the death, this woman’s lack of horror at her own actions and the death of her child…her eagerness to get right back to work…to me it stinks to high heaven and I think this was planned! This was MURDER plain and simple.

Phew….glad I got that off my chest….this won’t ever be read but I sure feel better!

By: Cowboytroy

Cowboytroy — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:15:28 +0000

This was an accident and simply that. Many of us have forgotten to do something very important and lucky for most of us it didn’t cause a fatality. She got into a routine day in and day out which normally didn’t include dropping her daughter off at daycare; It isn’t a matter of not loving her daughter or being a neglectful parent. At that moment in time, as with every other day prior, she was in work mode as her kids were normally safe at daycare or with her husband. So all of that being said you can tell I feel for this woman but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t be charged for taking a life. Accident or not her actions killed another human being, 3rd degree murder is a crime regardless of sympathy.

By: Justin

Justin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:13:31 +0000

It’s a baby she can have another one.

By: lilysmom

lilysmom — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:41:30 +0000

What a tragic, horrible accident…and to be compounded by angry, hostile, hateful comments.

By: neva_se

neva_se — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:20:19 +0000

Most of these posts disgust me as well but I will say this, I respect the right to each person’s opinion and this is such a terrible tragedy that I can understand ones passion when debating it. However I don’t understand what jojo12 is trying to convey when saying such things as,”f***ing b**ch should die too”. I feel sorry for any child who has a parent with such a lack of class and intellect that they can’t articulate a point without sounding like complete trash.

By: The only real human here

The only real human here — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:49:16 +0000

I’m so glad I can say that I’m not even from the same country as you poor excuses for human beings. Who the hell are you to judge? You were not there. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED! I know you have all hd a lapse of judgmnt that has put your child in harms way, but luckily things turned out o.k. You are all just as bad as the protesters infront of the Anthony’s house, torturing those poor grandparents who are grieving the loss of their grandchild. It’s disgusting, you all disgust me.

By: Heather07

Heather07 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:47:08 +0000

Ok, let me just start by saying, sometimes accidents happen, I have heard and read the story, BUT, (I by no means claim to be a expert of this,) however, by the looks of the picture that you have posted on the site…it looks to me like she would have had to back up the SUV, to get as close as she did…most people who back up a car, look out the back window while being turned around in their seat. I know personally I dont use my rearview mirror to back up to something like that…I turn my body as far as I can and look out the back window to better judge the distance. So, if she would have backed up like majority of people, she would have SEEN her daughter sitting there in her car seat…I don’t know about anyone else, but my personal opinion is that this should be investigated just alittle bit more…I mean my god,,, I have a two year old daughter and a four year old son…I am not saying it would never happen because I cannot predict the future. But I can say, that for this instance, IT SURE THE HELL WOULDN”T HAVE. HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE YOUR BABY GIRL SITTING IN THE CAR AS YOU ARE BACKING THE CAR UP!

By: jojo12

jojo12 — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:13:30 +0000

I was watching the show opera the other day and seen this lady on there and ppl where trying to make her fell good about this, i have a 14month old lil girl, and i don’t know about other moms but there is no way in hell that i could ever leave my child in a car nor anything else that is ur kid how do u forget i don’t care what anybody has to say about this she need to go to jail, i would love to see her stay in a car for 8 hours in the heat, and im sure when she open the door to her car to get those fucking donut’s that the kid was calling for her mom, and you telling me that she could not see the top og her head nor the top of the car seat,fucking bitch should die to, if i ever see this lady it will not be nice, i hope she cant sleep at nite cause of her fucking loser self. when i heard of this i almost cried cause i thought of my lil one OMG I HATE THIS LADY I CANT EVEN SAY WHAT I FEEL CAUSE THERE IS NO WORDS FOR THIS, THIS LADY NEEDS TO GO TO JAIL, SO THIS LIL GIRL COULD REST IN PEACE….
AND FOR THE POLICE THAT LET HER GO SHOUOLD NOT BE WORKING CAUSE THEY CLEARLY DONT CARE FOR THIS CHILD

By: barb johnson middletown ohio mom of 1

barb johnson middletown ohio mom of 1 — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:33:02 +0000

no i dont think its enough. she should be charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter in violation of R.C. 2903.04(A) and one count of child endangering in violation of R.C. 2919.22(A). just like the man in the bittner case was done in 2000 for the same crime and locked up. and i am not full of hate and vengance, i just dont think letting her off scott free is good enough, im sorry. i know she is hurting in a way hopefully non of us ever has to endure but she has done it before! i just dont know how someone can be that utterly careless MULTIPLE times and still have it treated as an accident. it just doesnt add up im sorry.

By: ajsix

ajsix — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:22:40 +0000

i agree with jp

By: geegee

geegee — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:21:33 +0000

i am furious at this woman for the love i have for my own 1 year old son.

By: neva_se

neva_se — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:48:55 +0000

“HELLO”… the very definition of murder; the unlawful killing of a human person WITH MALICE aforethought. There was no malice in this woman’s heart. She is a human being who made an awful mistake. You don’t think the pain she has to live with knowing her actions caused her daughters death is punishment enough? Anyone who doesn’t obviously doesn’t try to understand the degree of anguish she has to feel. “She can be sad all she wants”? What a gross understatement. And saying she can do it in a jail cell, well that is just cruel. I empathize with this woman because of the love I have for my own 1 year old daughter. How sad it is that there are really all these people with so much hate and vengeance.

By: barb johnson, middletown ohio mom of 1

barb johnson, middletown ohio mom of 1 — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:40:14 +0000

TO ”neva_se”…
the justice system is for murders and rapists? HELLO what do you think she did to this little girl. murder!! if it was on purpose or involuntary ITS STILL MURDER. i think this mother can be as sad as she wants of course, but i also think she should be doing it in a 8 x 9 cell.

By: barb johnson, middletown ohio mom of 1

barb johnson, middletown ohio mom of 1 — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:29:03 +0000

this is to ”justme08”. of course we all have made mistakes. everyone does BUT this isnt about a mistake. this is about a woman who outright neglected her child resulting in the childs death. a mistake is something you do and then you learn from it. well she has done it several times before. the first time was an accident. the second was a mistake and the third in my opinion was a well thought out plan.

By: barb johnson, middletown ohio mom of 1

barb johnson, middletown ohio mom of 1 — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:23:09 +0000

if you notice in the picture above where she is getting out doughnuts and juice she is parked on double no parking lines…she must have had to get back in her car AGAIN and move it to an actual parking spot right? if i have counted correctly she had either gotten into or walked past her car 7 times and never noticed her daughter but another teacher walks by ONCE and sees her in there? are you kidding me? this is murder plain and simple. if this had been a single welfare mom or a woman of a different race i wonder if she would be getting off so easy. i doubt it. oh and how about her little stint on oprah yesterday? kill your baby get on tv. what a world what a world. and if that mother is reading this, i hope you burn in hell.

By: neva_se

neva_se — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:41:10 +0000

Although I would not call this a “simple” mistake, I agree with you justme. How easy it is for others to sit in judgment. It is sad when others can feel no compassion for this grieving mother who suffers the most now. I have a one year old little girl who is my life. I would like to say I could never ever do the same thing. What is the benefit of all this anger towards this mother who punishes herself more than any justice system could. Why don’t you all just grab your torches and storm down to yell and scream outside her home!? Or you could use some common sense and compassion and realize the justice system is better saved for the murderers and rapists. Its called empathy people…try and have some.

By: justme08

justme08 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:46:48 +0000

i suppose every parent here is perfect, and never made a single mistake!!

By: Gail

Gail — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:45:27 +0000

I first heard of this at a forum I go to, but evidently the poster left many things out. Most of the people on there felt this poor Mother had suffered enough, she would be guilt ridden for the rest of her life, everyone except me! I told them all she needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, this is blatant neglect, and inexucasable, especially since she worked at a school. I had no idea that she went out to her SUV several times that day, that makes this all the more unbeleivable! I say lock her up and throw away the key.

I also think that the other child needs to be taken out of the home, asap, this woman has severe problems.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:25:46 +0000

Sorry, forgot the interview page.

By: J.P.

J.P. — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:31:07 +0000

Brenda, thank you for highlighting this link–this is egregious. I am just beyond words and disgusted by the Slaby case. And, sadly, I don’t think this child quietly passed away in her sleep, as we all hope and pray. She was found blistered, it took EMS hours to even get a temperature on her body.

Additionally, I’m outraged by the TODAY show for airing Slaby’s interview with investigators and interviewing her dingbat sympathizing neighbor who classified Slaby as “any other mother like you or me who made a mistake.” I will no longer watch the TODAY show and find it offensive they are not producing quality journalism…they have reduced themselves to nothing but a disappointing and ridiculous fluffy reality show.

By: Rene

Rene — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:52:57 +0000

I can’t believe she is not being charged. I would prosecute this woman to the fullest extent of the law. At this point I just hope that the baby fell asleep and died in her sleep. I have two children and won’t even leave them in the car when I drop off a movie in the slot outside let alone leave them in their in intense heat. She is beyond careless. Take to the gallows.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 20:47:06 +0000

Sorry, I shouldn’t have said ‘crime’ in relation to Slaby, I should have said unfortunate accident.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 20:45:46 +0000

http://massdiscussion.blogspot.com/2007/09/clermont-county-prosecutor-prosecutes.html

JP: You are too right - please read above. Of course, Mr. Bittner was a man trying to work two low paying jobs to support his family and lived in a trailer park. Enough for Don White to prosecute him for exactly the same crime as Slaby.

By: J.P.

J.P. — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:57:19 +0000

I also find it interesting that Slaby is being represented by none other than Clermont County Commissioner, Scott Croswell, who is (and the drum roll please) a minion of Don White, the Clermont County Prosectuor who found no evidence that Slaby was reckless or endangering a child, thus didn’t forge ahead to prosecute or reinvestigate. I hate playing the race card here, but let’s see if this situation would have been handled similarly if let’s say the offender was a woman of color and/or someone from a lower socioeconomic background.

By: J.P.

J.P. — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:54:38 +0000

As a mother of an 11 month old child, and a woman who exchanged her lucrative and rewarding career at a University to care full-time for our child, I am enraged, disappointed, and astounded by how the Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby case has played out, in addition to the sympathizers who feel that “guilt” will be punishment enough and that this was an accident brought on by a woman who was too preoccupied, but clearly alert enough to get $60.00 worth of doughnuts out of her Mercedes SUV. Being a parent is no longer a privilege and honor and child advocacy has been an afterthought as demonstrated in the devastating, heinous, untimely death of Cecilia. Both have now been exchanged for fancy legal terms like “Reckless Conduct” and “Substantial Lack of Due Care.” As a taxpayer and citizen of Ohio, I am ashamed by how this case has been investigated and handled. I am appalled that Slaby has been on paid leave since the death of this child and that she plans on returning to her $77,000/year contracted job. For those of you who may not know, Slaby may legally be entitled to return to her job overseeing and caring for other people’s children, an abuse of the Law and ridiculous by all standards and means. I guess finding her lifeless child who was blistered by the extreme heat, isn’t compelling enough for her to resign her position. Shameful and disgusting.

By: J.P.

J.P. — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:53:46 +0000

Let’s not forget the day Cecilia was left in the sweltering heat, Slaby returned to the car at least FIVE times, and even moved the vehicle to a different parking spot during that same 8 hour period. Last I checked, you need to use a rearview mirror, sideview mirrors, and look behind you before you back a vehicle up (notice the vehicle was backed into the loading dock at the school)–still “forgot” she was in there, come on. Got too preoccupied, don’t buy it, afterall she arrived to school earlier than usual. “Losing her child” isn’t punishment…..afterall, she FORGOT her child was dying in the sweltering heat, left badly blistered. What makes people think she won’t FORGET the memory of this innocent child again, especially if she’s allowed to resume her “so-called” hectic schedule of being an Assistant Principal. Also, how many think she intentionally left this child in the car while picking up her precious doughnuts..exactly….

Remember, she was caught at least five other times leaving her child in the car days prior to this death and in extreme weather conditions, I wonder how many times she left that child in the car and didn’t get caught…..this is disgraceful, egregious, and despicable…think again before feeling this shouldn’t go to a grand jury. We’re talking about a child, not a Blackberry or iPod.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:07:59 +0000

Mark, Barbara and Mary - ditto from me on everything.
There are so many things that don’t add up. Had she been so scatterbrained that she had forgotten the baby in the car seat for an hour, well, still hard to believe but I could maybe buy it, but I can’t get my mind around 8 hours. My husband is of the opinion that she did remember after perhaps an hour or two but figured the child would be dead so decided to let someone else find her. What she didn’t reckon on was it taking 8 hours. You probably saw the video of her walking around the SUV, opening the front and back doors and the hatchback, then getting in to drive it to another parking place, but still didn’t notice the baby. It only took another teacher who parked next to Brenda’s SUV a glance in the window to notice the baby. Another thing - one teacher at the school called up a local radio talk show and told how she was a little late to the meeting. When she apologized to Brenda and told her that she had been late taking her own child to the sitter, Brenda gave her a right telling off. They then got to talking about difficulties with baby sitters which STILL didn’t trigger Brenda’s
memory that Cecilia was outside in the car.
Right from the first minute Don White said that it was just a tragic accident and this was before any evidence or police reports came out. Seemed like he had a personal agenda to make sure there was absolutely no prosecution. I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this and something is about to break regarding goings on at the Clermont County Prosecutors office from what I’ve heard.
She seems very gungho to get the same job back. Wonder if she’ll arrive in the
fatal SUV complete with donuts for a little back to work celebration? !*!****

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 03:38:27 +0000

How in the world can her husband stay married to this stupid selfish cow. He has to be the world’s biggest loser.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 03:36:57 +0000

Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby is a gross overweight pig, who cared more about eating donuts then she did about taking care of her daughter. She is getting away with murder. How in the world can anymore just assume that she did not do this on purpose. That is up to a jury to decide. Michael Vick tortured and killed dogs and he’s going to jail. She tortured and killed a little girl, and she’s not even getting a fine. And she can’t wait to get back to work, where her little girl died a horrible, slow, painful death. She is obviously a very dangerous person. Maybe she’ll keep eating her donuts, until she has a heart attack (disgusting fat slob that she is). Let’s hope so. She is stomach-turning. Also, she had left the child in the car alone on numerous other occassions, according to the bakery worker, she did it that same morning.

By: Mark from Houston

Mark from Houston — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:48:26 +0000

I believe Don White needs to be fired. Since when does leaving a child in a locked HOT car not a crime.?? It is here in Texas and people go to Jail!

And Brenda, I agree with everything you said. That woman wanted to kill her child.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 20:32:45 +0000

Well, we heard how the next morning after the ‘accident’ and the police video was recorded she called the principal of her school and said she hoped to have everything cleared up soon and that she hoped things would soon be back to normal (or words to that effect).

Last weekend (Sept, 2,), her lawyer Croswell was interviewed and said that she was totally devasted and in shock, etc.
Tuesday (Sept. 4), when she heard that she was not to be charged he again was interviewed and said that she was relieved she was not going to have to face any charges and wanted to get back to work. She must have awfully good powers of recovery.

One thing I find hard to understand is how she can possibly want to go back to the same job where the accident took place. I don’t think I could ever look at that school again if it was me.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 03:24:17 +0000

The video I saw on this woman this morning left me with a very cold feeling. In it she says “I must be the most incompetent woman in the world” and then “I try to do too much, too much”, or something to that effect. She did not appear to be distraught or in shock. She did not mention her poor, poor child and I can not imagine what this little person experienced and the guilt you must feel (I could cry just thinking about it now).
But something does not add up and if she has a history of leaving her children in a car or being an incompetent parent I think the DA really needs to re-evaluate his decision. It is not ok to have a lapse in memory and I also cannot see how you forget you have a child in your car - no matter how freakin busy you are. I have a 4.5 yr old and she has fallen asleep in the car many times and NOT ONCE have I left her in a car.

By: chris

chris — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:41:51 +0000

my name is chris from north carolina. You know this lady had to of done this on purpose. There’s no way you can forget there’s a child in your back seat. If your an expirenced driver you adjust your mirror so you can see EVERYTHING behind you correct?. My mom is 70+ and sometimes she forgets what she had for breakfast the day before, she had her niece which is only 2yrs old, now mind you she has’nt had a toddler for 38 yrs. and she didnt forget that there was a child in the back seat. This lady should be punished to the fullest!!! For her friend that said she trust her 100% your a flipping fool or just as crazy as her. for the judge he must not have any kids and he’s just an ass.

p.s. sorry for the missedspld words………

By: tammy ball

tammy ball — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 03:59:38 +0000

Hello Gary, wlw radio station

My name is Tammy from Tennessee and I was told today by my friends Katrina and Ted Tracy about this “so called mother” leaving her child in the car and not being charged for it.

You mean to tell me that the Laws in Ohio protect parents who kill their children. This woman has repeatedly left her child in the car numerous times and they are letting her off??????????

She cared more about her damn doughnuts then her helpless child “strapped” in her hot car.

And not ONCE did she think of her child, (being that she is around children constantly, you think that would remind her) being left in her vehicle inches from her damn doughnuts……..

As a parent, I find this story not only sad, pitiful, but mainy UNJUSTIFIABLE and someone needs to be held accountable for this poor child death.
Obviously since the 5 year old brother drew pictures of the baby in the car seat, it would lead you to believe that this poor child probably lived in that damn car.

This woman was warned by police several times about leaving her daughter, yet this poor child is now dead………..

WHAT JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for listening and my friends really love to listen to you………….. You might want to tell your viewers that there is a website called (Kids in cars.com) that so far this year 145 fatalities of children.
p.s. Don white is a freaking idiot!!!!!!!!!! Has no reason to believe she will hurt her other child???? you’ve got to be kidding…. He must be having an affair with her to have such lapse in judgement…… Is the husband still with this woman and is she mentally ill????
either way she deserves the same treatment that her poor daughter didnt deserve…MAYBE WORSE…………