ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – An Ormond Beach man has been sentenced to 42 years in prison in connection with the 2025 hot car death of his 18-month-old son.
Scott Gardner, 33, originally faced a first-degree murder charge, but as part of a plea deal, the charge was reduced to second-degree murder. On Thursday, he was sentenced to 42 years in prison.
Gardner is accused of leaving his son, Sebastian, in a truck for more than three hours on June 6, 2025, while he got a haircut and then spent nearly three hours drinking at Hanky Panky’s Lounge, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Medical personnel estimated Sebastian’s body temperature reached 111 degrees. Gardner did not call 911 until he drove home, deputies said.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Gardner later returned to the bar with his mother after Sebastian was pronounced dead.
Gardner also initially provided several false accounts of what happened that day.
