A baby lost her life in a hot car, and her mother is going to prison.
Florida mother Megan Dauphin, 32, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the death of her newborn daughter, McKinlee Grace Garner. Found guilty of aggravated manslaughter, Dauphin left the seven-week-old in her hot vehicle for four hours after driving to buy cigarettes, resulting in the baby’s death on September 2, 2020.
Dauphin was high on methamphetamine at the time and drug paraphernalia consistent with methamphetamine use was found in her home. She also tested positive for the drug on the day of the incident.
Dauphin’s stepdaughter discovered McKinlee was missing, leading to the realization that the newborn had been left in the vehicle. Despite the tragedy, family and friends testified in court to Dauphin’s character, describing her as a good person who made a mistake. Dauphin herself expressed ongoing remorse over her daughter’s death and commitment to her other children.
A friend, Robin Howell, provided testimony about Dauphin’s distress after McKinlee’s death, revealing Dauphin’s confession to having drugs in her system at the time of the incident.
Dauphin’s lawyers have 30 days to appeal the sentencing.