A 5-year-old girl died after being left in a hot car for hours outside her family's home in Garland, Texas, amid an extreme heat warning, police said. Faustina Jean-Paul was discovered inside a vehicle around 8:20 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the Garland Police Department.
Authorities believe the child was in the car for several hours after an adult family member picked her and her older brother up from school earlier that day. The sibling and the unidentified driver reportedly exited the vehicle, leaving Faustina inside. The outside temperature exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit at the time.
Family members initiated a search for Faustina after realizing she was missing, eventually finding her in the car. They immediately began performing CPR and called 911. Faustina was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The exact duration Faustina was left in the car and whether the vehicle's doors and windows were locked remain unclear as the investigation continues.
Officer Matthew Pesta of the Garland Police Department stated that no charges have been filed and that the department is awaiting official findings from the medical examiner. "We want to ensure everything is thoroughly investigated," Pesta said. He described the situation as "devastating."
The Garland Independent School District confirmed Faustina's death, noting she was a new student in the district. The school year had begun on August 10. The district has made crisis counseling available to students and staff affected by the tragedy.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help cover funeral and memorial expenses for Faustina's family. The page was created on behalf of her father, Aziz Jean-Paul, by a friend.
Funeral services are scheduled for September 5 at New Hope Funeral Home Chapel, followed by a burial, according to an obituary page.