New Jersey

2-Year-Old Girl Somehow Hurts, Kills Self in Car Seat as Mom Gets High in Front: Officials

A New Jersey mom was high on drugs in her car and left her 2-year-old daughter unattended for hours in a car seat, where she fatally injured herself, prosecutors said. 

Deanna Joseph called 911 on Saturday night to report her child was unresponsive, according to NJ.com

Salem County Prosecutor John Lenahan said the child was found dead in a car parked in the driveway of Joseph's home with the engine running. Lenahan said it appears the child might have injured herself in the car seat. 

The exact cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner's office. 

Joseph was charged with second-degree child endangerment. No attorney information was available. 

Court records show it is Joseph's third arrest in nine years on charges related to neglect of a child. 

She was arrested in 2008 after her 11-year-old and 2-year-old were found alone at home, according to a Burlington County Times report. The two children were discovered after police found Joseph on drugs in a parking lot. 

The newspaper reported the children were temporarily taken into state custody. Joseph was convicted of cruelty and child neglect and sentenced to five years of probation. 

Records show the woman was arrested again after being found unresponsive at an apartment in 2014. Her infant son was found bathing in inches of water nearby. 

Joseph was again convicted of cruelty and neglect of a child and sentenced to a year in jail. It is unclear if she was being monitored by the child protection division of the state Department of Child and Families. 

If convicted of the current charges, Joseph could face up to 10 years in prison.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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