North Carolina authorities have arrested a 29-year-old mom and charged her with first-degree murder after her small daughters died in a hot car Saturday.
Launice Shanique Battle’s toddlers, ages 3 and 2, died at Duke Raleigh Hospital at around 9:30 p.m. and although there was no official declaration about a cause of death, their father revealed they were left in a hot car.
Family members of the mother said that the tragedy was “a careless mistake” and that Launice will be supported “no matter what.”
“She was always there. She’s a caring and loving mother to her kids at the end of the day. She’s not a cold-blooded murderer. She’s not a killer,” Battle’s cousin said.
Local authorities said that they had no record of any calls reporting child abuse or suspected neglect at Battle’s address.
