A New Mexico couple who endured six miscarriages before having their 'miracle baby' are suing the babysitter who left their two-year-old daughter to die in a hot car. Zariah Hasheme died on 17 September after Tammie Brooks, 41, forgot to drop her off at nursery and left her in the car for over six hours while she went to work, police say.
Zariah's mother, Demi Petrowski, told KOB-TV: 'I would not wish this pain and this hurt upon my worst enemy.' The couple had given up on trying to conceive when they learned Petrowski was pregnant. Zariah's father, Zachary Hasheme, recalled receiving the devastating call from his wife: 'I hear Demi screaming on the other line saying that Zariah's dead.'
Brooks was arrested and charged with abandonment or abuse of a child resulting in death. Police say she only realised her error after returning to her car to run an errand. Zariah was the 42nd US child to die of heat exhaustion in a hot car in 2019, according to safety group Kidsandcars.org, which notes the average annual number is 38.
An online fundraiser for the family has raised over $3,200 (£2,600). Petrowski urged others to 'always look at the backseat of the car' and for daycare centres to contact parents if a child does not arrive at their appointed time. US car manufacturers have agreed to add rear seat sensors to help prevent such tragedies.
