2-year-old boy reportedly left alone in room for more than 12 hours dies

WEST END, N.C. (TCN) — Authorities recently arrested a 27-year-old father after his toddler son was reportedly left in a hot room for hours and died.

According to the Moore County Sheriff’s Office, on Dec. 2, deputies and emergency medical personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive 2-year-old child on Shady Wood Court. The victim, River Carter, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Upon further investigation, officials learned River had reportedly been “isolated in a room for more than 12 hours and had been exposed to elevated temperatures from a space heater prior to his death being reported.”

More than a month later, authorities arrested the child’s father, Aaron Carter, on Jan. 7. He faces one count of felony involuntary manslaughter and one count of felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury.

Aaron Carter remains held in the Moore County Detention Center on $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 9.

In his obituary, River Carter was described as a “genuine and kind soul,” and he had one sister.

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