On Monday, July 15, 2024, 28-year-old Avraham Chaitovsky of Jackson Township left his 8-week-old daughter in his car for an extended period of time while he attended the Kollel Cheshek Shlomo synagogue in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. The heat index that day reached 107 degrees, with mid-90s temperatures. Authorities responded around 1:45 p.m. to a report of a baby in cardiac arrest. Hatzola Medical Services attempted life-saving measures, but the infant was pronounced dead at the scene. Chaitovsky was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, with the investigation ongoing and additional charges possible.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The father left his 8-week-old daughter unattended in a vehicle while he went inside a synagogue. The News 12 article states: "police say Avraham Chaitovsky, of Jackson Township, left his daughter inside his vehicle, while he attended the Kollel Cheshek Shlomo synagogue in Lakewood." The ABC News article states the baby was "left alone in her dad's car 'for an extended period of time.'" This constitutes inappropriate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
All three documents explicitly describe this as a hot car death. The ABC News article states: "A dad has been arrested after his 8-week-old daughter died when she was left in a hot car in New Jersey." The News 12 article states: "A father is facing charges after allegedly leaving his 8-week-old daughter inside a hot car in Lakewood on Monday." The heat index reached 107 degrees.
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The child's biological father, Avraham Chaitovsky, was directly responsible for the death. The ABC News article states: "The baby's father, 28-year-old Avraham Chaitovsky, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child." All three documents identify him as the baby's father who left her in the hot car.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The ABC News article states: "The baby's father, 28-year-old Avraham Chaitovsky, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors said." The NY Post article confirms: "The father was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail and additional charges may be forthcoming."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The NY Post article describes a significant policy/systemic issue: Kids and Car Safety helped pass federal legislation as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act mandating NHTSA to issue safety regulations requiring automakers to install technology to prevent hot car deaths. However, the article states the standards "were supposed to be submitted last fall, but they still haven't issued it. They've repeatedly pushed back the deadline, with the agency announcing just last week they'd need until April 2025." Director Amber Rollins stated: "Meanwhile, every week, children continue dying, families continue burying their children and it's unacceptable." Additionally, the News 12 article notes that Lakewood specifically has had four hot car child deaths since 1998 (out of 15 in New Jersey), suggesting a recurring local pattern. The NY Post article also provides context from safety experts that sleep deprivation and changes in routine are the primary contributing factors, and that "A lot of these parents aren't even used to having a child yet."
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