Foster grandmother arrested over d3ath of 7-month-old after leaving the infant in hot car for hours while she worked

A woman in Tennessee has been charged in the d3ath of a 7-month-old after the sheriff’s office says she left the baby in a hot car for hours while she worked.

According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the woman, identified as Linda Charlene Stevens, was supposed to take her foster grandchild to day care on April 15, 2026.

After the baby hadn’t been dropped off at the day care, staff reached out to the infant’s foster mother, who reached out to Stevens.

Stevens then reportedly realized she hadn’t taken the baby to day care before going to her job at the library and emergency crews were called.

Lifesaving measures were attempted, said the sheriff’s office, but authorities say the infant had been left in the car alone, with the windows sealed and the engine off, from about 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

District Attorney Bryant Dunaway announced on Friday, April 24, that Stevens had been charged with negligent homicide. 

She was booked into the Putnam County Jail and was given a $50,000 bond.