Father fell asleep drunk leaving son in hot car who later died, say police
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Version 0 of 1. A father wept at a court hearing in Arizona after police say he left his toddler in a hot car during a day of heavy drinking and the boy later died. James Koryor was taken into custody on suspicion of manslaughter and child abuse Tuesday after detectives determined he went to a liquor store in Phoenix with his two-year-old, bought a bottle of gin, drank it on the way home and fell asleep in his house. The boy was left behind in the car, and detectives found signs he had struggled to get out of the vehicle. Koryor, 41, made an initial court appearance Tuesday, where a judge set a $50,000 (£33,000) bond and assigned the case to the public defender’s office. He didn’t have a lawyer at the hearing. Prosecutors argued for higher bail, saying Koryor has extensive ties to Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana and could flee. A sobbing Koryor told the judge he did not have money to post bond. He struggled to keep his composure, and at one point the judge offered him a box of tissues as he sobbed. The judge also stressed that Koryor could consume any alcohol if he posted bond. “That means you cannot have any alcohol inside any residence that you stay,” the judge said. “None. It has to be immediately removed. All of this is to ensure the safety of your family and of the community, and, frankly, I’d like to ensure that you are protected from yourself.” The victim was identified as Alpha Koryor. His five-year-old brother either got out of the car by himself or was taken inside by his father, Sgt Trent Crump said. Family members asked where his little brother was, and he said the child was asleep, Crump said. The boy’s mother found Alpha unconscious in the backseat of the car a couple of hours later, Crump said. The boy was taken to a hospital and died. The death occurred as temperatures in the Phoenix area topped 90F (32C). |