VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – An Ormond Beach man who was arrested after his 18-month-old son died in a hot truck now faces a charge of first-degree murder, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
A grand jury indicted Scott Gardner, 33, on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and neglect of a child causing great bodily harm, the sheriff’s office said on Wednesday.
Gardner is accused of leaving his son, Sebastian, in the truck for over three hours on June 6.
[BELOW: Child left alone in hot truck dies in Fla.]
Deputies said during that time, Gardner got a haircut and went drinking at Hanky Panky’s Lounge.
According to investigators, Gardner later provided several false accounts of what happened that day.
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Gardner was in the lounge for nearly three hours.
“For two hours and 40 minutes, that little guy is inside that car. He (Gardner) says the windows were down — but he’s a lying sack of [expletive] — with a little mini fan with AA batteries blowing on the baby,” Chitwood said during a news conference.
Gardner called 911 on his way home. Chitwood said hours after the child was pronounced dead, Gardner then went back to the bar.
“He picks up his mother and they go back to Hanky Panky’s for a few more cocktails,” Chitwood said. “I don’t think there’s a penalty on this Earth that could ever fit for the crime that was committed here. It absolutely shocks the conscience for this to even happen.”
Gardner initially faced charges of child neglect and aggravated manslaughter of a child.
He remains in jail without bond.