Local

Woman accused of leaving toddler in day care van pleas not guilty

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A 51-year-old woman who is accused of leaving a 3-year-old boy in a hot vehicle for nearly 12 hours in August pleaded not guilty earlier this month, the public defender's office said Tuesday.

Deborah St. Charles is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child in connection with the Aug. 7 death of Myles Hill, whose body was found in a day care van at Little Miracles Academy in Orlando.

Investigators said St. Charles got out of the van twice without checking for the toddler.

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Police said she answered a phone call while retrieving belongings from the van and failed to check the vehicle's interior.

A judge on Aug. 11 set St. Charles' bail at $30,000 and stipulated that she not work at a child care facility or have unsupervised contact with minors. Attorneys were unsuccessful in reducing the bail.

More than a month later, St. Charles' attorneys filed a motion to have her released from jail since prosecutors had failed to file formal charges.

Shortly after she filed the motion, prosecutors formally charged her with aggravated manslaughter in connection with Hill’s death.

In the charging documents, prosecutors said St. Charles failed to make a reasonable effort to protect Myles Hill with the care and supervision and services to maintain his physical and mental health.

Attorneys said St. Charles waived her arraignment earlier this month.