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Family fights for harsher punishment for woman accused in 4-year-old's hot car death

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The family of a 4-year-old who died after being left in a hot car in Orange County last year wants the woman who was responsible for the boy that day to serve prison time.

Logan Starling died inside a car parked outside Elite Preparatory Academy last October when investigators say his father’s girlfriend, Mariah Butler, was supposed to be responsible for him.

In September, a judge accepted a plea deal for Butler that would have sentenced her to no prison time and five years of probation. But the judge changed his mind after the child’s grandparents and great-grandparents spoke up, begging the judge to reconsider and send the case to trial, giving a jury the option to punish Butler more harshly.

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"You're talking about the death of a 4-year-old child, and I think she will get her just punishment if it's in front of a jury,” said Roy Werner, Logan's great-grandfather.

The judge told Butler’s attorney to come back to court with a better deal. And on Tuesday, the attorney asked the judge for more time to conduct additional depositions.

Another hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7. If a deal is not worked out by then, the case will go to trial Jan. 21.

Follow Channel 9 reporter Lauren Seabrook on Twitter and stay tuned to Eyewitness News for the latest updates in the case.

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