A Pennsylvania father was charged with murder after allegedly forgetting to drop his 14-month-old daughter off at daycare and leaving her inside his hot car, where she died while he was “under the influence” of marijuana.
Daniel Jeffrey Moist, 38, was arrested Wednesday and faces charges including third-degree murder, child endangerment, reckless endangerment, and leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle, according to the Northampton County District Attorney’s office.
“We believe the operative facts show that Mr. Moist was under the influence, and he assumed the care of his daughter to deliver her safely to the daycare center,” District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta stated during a press conference, according to People.
According to investigators, Moist left his home with his two children on June 11.
While he successfully dropped off one child at camp, he failed to deliver his baby girl to daycare.
The child remained in the vehicle throughout the workday.
At 4 p.m., after receiving a call from his wife alerting him that the child had not been dropped off, Moist returned to his vehicle and discovered the toddler unresponsive.
He immediately called 911 and transported her to the nearest hospital.
When officers arrived at the scene, they observed that Moist exhibited “glassy, bloodshot eyes.”
A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a THC vape, and lab results later confirmed the presence of active marijuana components in his system.
Moist has been arraigned, and his bail is set at $500,000.
While the circumstances are grave, District Attorney Baratta noted there is currently no evidence that Moist was aware his daughter had been left in the vehicle.
