The grieving parents of a two-year-old boy who tragically died after being left unattended in a car on Martha's Vineyard have initiated a civil lawsuit against their babysitter, who is concurrently facing criminal manslaughter charges. Julie and Matthew Rodenbaugh of West Tisbury allege in their legal filing that on March 13, 2025, babysitter Aimee Cotton breached her duty of care by leaving their son, Frank, alone in her vehicle for an extended period without proper clothing, nourishment, or hydration.
Allegations of Negligence and Deception
According to the lawsuit, which was formally submitted on January 28, the young boy developed severe hypothermia and was urgently transported to hospital, where he succumbed to cardiac arrest six days later. The legal document further contends that Cotton compounded her failures by allegedly providing false information to emergency responders about the circumstances surrounding Frank's distress, a delay which the parents argue critically impeded the medical attention he desperately required.
Police Investigation and Surveillance Evidence
Initial reports from law enforcement, as obtained by The Boston Globe, indicate that Cotton told police she had left Frank and another one-year-old girl in her care inside the car for approximately fifteen minutes. However, a subsequent review of home surveillance footage presented a starkly different timeline. Police stated the footage showed Cotton returning to her home with the children at 9:22 am on the morning of the incident.
Authorities reported that over the subsequent three hours, the surveillance did not capture Cotton visiting her vehicle or anyone exiting it. At around 12:15 pm, the footage allegedly depicted Cotton taking the one-year-old girl indoors for about ten minutes before returning her to the car, while Frank remained inside the parked vehicle in the driveway.
Sequence of Events Leading to Emergency Call
The police report details that Cotton spent the next hour moving various items from her residence to the car. The situation reached a critical point when Cotton dialled 911 at approximately 1:16 pm, informing the dispatcher that Frank was not breathing and his skin was turning blue, according to prosecutors. First responders arrived to find Cotton administering CPR, with Oak Bluffs police and emergency medical services subsequently taking over resuscitation efforts.
Babysitter's Alleged Admissions and Justifications
In her interview with investigators, Cotton allegedly admitted to leaving the children unsupervised in the car for "the entire time." The police report states she claimed that during the hours the children were secured in their car seats, she was inside her house engaged in activities including cooking bacon in the oven, attending to personal hygiene, preparing her son's hockey equipment, and performing several household chores.
Law enforcement noted in the report that while Cotton displayed moments of remorse during questioning, she also reportedly "attempted to justify her actions" regarding the prolonged period of neglect.
Legal Proceedings and Parental Pursuit of Justice
Frank's parents are now seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages through their civil lawsuit against Cotton and have formally requested a trial by jury. In the parallel criminal case, Cotton entered a plea of not guilty to charges of manslaughter and child endangerment in October. She was released on bail following her arraignment, which occurred the day after the children were left in the car. Her next scheduled court appearance in the criminal matter is set for February 18.
This heartbreaking case underscores the severe consequences of caregiver negligence and the complex legal pathways families navigate in pursuit of accountability following such devastating losses.
