US couple charged with hot car death of 11-month-old found with insects over her eyes and nose

Authorities in the US have charged a couple with the death of their 11-month-old daughter, who died while being left in a car for hours.

The couple – Travis McCullough, 30, and Jessica Tollett, 24 – were arrested on Sunday (9 July) for criminal homicide and neglect, a day after the infant died, authorities have said.

Police said the baby girl was left "in an unattended vehicle for an extended period".

According to court documents, Travis had left his three children in the car while working for his father's business on 8 July when temperatures reached 90C in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Authorities have charged Travis with one count of criminal homicide and three counts of aggravated assault, while Jessica has been charged with three counts of child abuse and has a $300,000 (£233,070) bond.

The arrests were made after a woman called police to report the incident.

Recounting the incident, the woman said she heard Travis yelling for help from a parking lot. But when she reached him, he tossed the "lifeless" body of the toddler "who was completely unclothed, into her arms and fled the scene".

The woman immediately called for help and when police officers arrived, they found the baby girl with insects over her eyes, nose and mouth. The infant was declared dead at the scene.

The two other children in the car also did not seem to be in very good health, showing signs of neglect, malnutrition and possible abuse, with visible bruises and cuts. They were taken to a hospital.

Child protective services "will take custody of those children once they are medically cleared," the police said and added that the couple's home was also raided, which they found in an "atrocious" condition with one room covered in faeces and urine.

However, this is not the first time the couple has been arrested. In 2012, Travis and Jessica were put behind bars after being charged with child abuse and neglect.