SAINT PAUL, MN. (THECOUNT) — Kristopher Taylor, from Apple Valley, Minnesota, has been identified as the father accused of leaving his son, 4-year-old Riley Taylor, in a hot vehicle worked at CHS Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Riley died while sitting in a hot car for several hours while his 26-year-old father worked at CHS Field, according to KSTP.
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According to the criminal complaint, Taylor – who was arrested at the hospital – said he and his son had gone to an event at which he was scheduled to work at CHS Field Saturday. He said that he got his son settled on the outfield grass where he could see him. When the boy said he was tired, Taylor allegedly said he took him to the vehicle. The complaint claims he told police he “hit the automatic window and thought he left it cracked maybe 1/2 or 1/4 of an inch.” He then allegedly “gave the boy a blanket and a hand-held gaming system to entertain him if he didn’t sleep.”
The complaint states that when Taylor returned to the vehicle after getting done with work around 5:15 p.m., he called his son’s name and got no response. He then found his son had no pulse, which led him to place the boy in the front passenger seat and drive to the hospital, holding his son’s hand en route.
But a police sergeant later spoke to two of his co-workers, who both said Taylor never left his shift, the complaint claims. And, in a second conversation with the sergeant, Taylor allegedly admitted he had left his son in the vehicle for the entirety of his shift.
According to the complaint, the Ramsey County Medical Examiner determined the cause of the boy’s death to be probable hyperthermia.
Taylor was charged Monday in Ramsey County. He is facing a second-degree manslaughter charge as he made his first court appearance Monday afternoon. Bail was set at $25,000 without conditions.
His next appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday.