A man who was arrested on a probation violation in Snellville, Ga. never told jail officials that his 8-month-old daughter was in his car.
20-year-old Davied Japez McCorry Whatley is charged with second-degree murder after his daughter, Nova Grace Whatley-Trejo, died in the hot car on Tuesday.
FOX5 News reports Whatley entered the lobby of the police department to pick up a gun police had in their possession. Police ran a routine background check and learned he had an outstanding warrant for a parole violation.
Officials said Whatley was recorded the entire time he was in the lobby and he never told them he left his infant daughter in his car.
“I’m absolutely astounded someone could leave an 8-month-old in the car, park away from our building and walk up here knowing that child was in the car,” Snellville Police Department Detective Jeff Manely said.
Nova was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital after her grandmother found her unresponsive in the car. Police say Nova was left alone in the vehicle for over 8 hours.
The grandmother said she spoke with Whatley in jail and he told her the child was in the car.
Whatley was released on bond for the probation violation, but he was arrested on Wednesday and charged with murder.
