Convicted Gambler Receives Jail Time Following Daughters' Tragic Death in Unattended Vehicle due to Heat
Mother Sentenced for Leaving Daughters in Car at Casino
In a heartbreaking incident that unfolded on August 27, 2022, Launice Shanique Battle was sentenced to prison for neglecting her two daughters, Amora Milbourne (age 3) and Trinity Milbourne (age 2), at Raleigh's Vegas Style Sweepstakes gaming property.
The tragic event came to light when Battle, after being away for over six hours, returned to the car to find her daughters unresponsive. The girls were subsequently driven to Duke Raleigh Hospital, but unfortunately, they had already succumbed to hyperthermia.
The autopsy revealed that both girls had started to decompose when doctors examined them, and neither had a body temperature, according to medical reports. The official cause of death was determined to be hyperthermia.
Battle faced a potential sentence of more than 80 years in prison, but the sentence was reduced to between 94 and 125 months due to her acceptance of responsibility for her criminal conduct. She pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree murder under a plea deal.
The incident sparked a wave of public outrage, with many questioning the safety measures in place at gambling establishments. However, a search for specific North Carolina state laws explicitly addressing the leaving of children unattended in vehicles at casinos did not yield any results.
While no such law was found, it is generally considered unsafe and potentially neglectful to leave minors unattended in vehicles due to the associated dangers. In fact, the Pennsylvania gambling regulatory board reminds players not to leave minors unattended in vehicles, hotel rooms, garages, or other casino facilities because of the risks involved, and such actions can lead to penalties or exclusions from casinos.
This reflects a broader principle that likely applies in most states, including North Carolina, where general child neglect or endangerment laws would cover leaving children unattended in unsafe situations like inside vehicles. If precise enforcement or guidance is needed, consulting North Carolina's Department of Social Services or legal counsel for state-specific child protection laws is recommended.
Despite the death of the two girls, Battle's cousin, Keisha Harris, defended Battle to North Carolina TV station WRAL. The weather on the day of the incident was hot, with a high temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit and varying skies from partly to mostly cloudy with some light rain.
Child Protective Services investigated Battle three times between 2019 and 2022. During her brief life, Amora suffered from multiple ailments, including being born prematurely, having chromosome deletion, congenital heart disease, and a gastrostomy tube. She also suffered a cerebellar stroke and was repeatedly hospitalized.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of parental responsibility and the potential consequences of neglect. Our thoughts are with the families affected by this tragedy.
[1] Pennsylvania Gambling Control Board, https://www.pgcb.state.pa.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Responsible-Gaming-Guide-for-Players.pdf
- despite the reduction in sentencing, Launice Shanique Battle was still sentenced to prison for leaving her two daughters, Amora Milbourne and Trinity Milbourne, unattended in a hot car at Raleigh's Vegas Style Sweepstakes gaming property.
- The incident raises questions about the safety measures in place at gambling establishments, as no specific North Carolina state law was found addressing the leaving of children unattended in vehicles at casinos.
- While no exact law was discovered, it is generally considered unsafe and potentially neglectful to leave minors unattended in vehicles, and such actions can lead to penalties or exclusions from casinos, as seen in the Pennsylvania gambling regulatory board's guidelines.
- Consulting North Carolina's Department of Social Services or legal counsel for state-specific child protection laws is recommended for precise enforcement or guidance on this issue.
