Babysitter leaves 2-year-old alone in car, then he dies, Massachusetts officials say

A 2-year-old child was left alone in a car and later died, and now his babysitter has been charged, Massachusetts officials said.

On March 13, Aimee Cotton, 41, was taking care of a 2-year-old boy when she called 911 to say he was turning blue and not breathing, according to a news release by the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office.

When Oak Bluffs officers arrived, they found Cotton giving the boy CPR in the back of the car, prosecutors said.

The toddler was sent to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Emergency Room and eventually flown to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he died six days later, officials said.

On March 14, Cotton was charged with assault and battery on a child with injury and reckless endangerment of a child, officials said.

On March 20, Cotton’s charges were upgraded to manslaughter, officials said.

She is due back in court April 3 for her probable cause hearing, officials said.

Oak Bluffs is about an 80-mile drive southeast of Boston.

This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 4:20 PM with the headline "Babysitter leaves 2-year-old alone in car, then he dies, Massachusetts officials say."