Charlotte, NC – A North Carolina mother will serve 105 days in jail after leaving her 8-year-old daughter, Nhubiy Stallings, in a hot car while she worked her shift at an Amazon Fulfillment Center, authorities said. The tragic incident occurred on June 26, 2024, during one of Charlotte’s hottest days of the year, with temperatures reaching 99°F.
Sentencing and Charges
Mecklenburg Superior Judge William T. Stetzer sentenced Ashlee Rochelle Stallings on Thursday after she pleaded guilty to:
- One misdemeanor count of contributing to the neglect of a minor – 45 days
- One count of misdemeanor child abuse – 60 days
The sentences are to be served consecutively, with 56 days of time already served credited. Stallings had faced a maximum possible sentence of 270 days in jail.
In exchange for her guilty plea, prosecutors dropped a felony involuntary manslaughter charge and downgraded a child abuse charge.
Details of the Incident
On June 26, 2024, officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Freedom Division responded around 6:30 p.m. to a report of an unresponsive child at the 4100 block of Wilkinson Boulevard.
First responders found Nhubiy Stallings in critical condition inside a vehicle, according to police. She was transported by Charlotte Fire Department emergency personnel to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on June 27, 2024.
Mother’s Account and Investigation
According to the probable cause affidavit, Stallings admitted that she left the victim in the car while she was at work.
“The vehicle was running with the air on, but she believed the victim turned the car off because she was cold,” the affidavit states.
“Ashlee Stallings returned to her vehicle approximately an hour and a half later to find the victim unresponsive in the back seat floorboard.”
Stallings attempted to break the back window with a hammer and found the child foaming at the mouth and breathing shallowly. She then drove toward the hospital, stopping at a business along Wilkinson Boulevard to call for help. Stallings admitted she knew the temperature was 94°F and should not have left her daughter alone in the car.
Cause of Death
Hospital staff determined that Nhubiy’s death was caused by a herniated brain due to hyperthermia, a direct result of being left in the hot car. Police confirmed the tragic outcome was preventable.
Community Impact and Safety Reminder
Authorities emphasize the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, particularly in high-heat conditions. Even with air conditioning running, temperatures inside cars can rise rapidly, creating life-threatening risks.
Parents and guardians are urged to never leave children alone in vehicles, even briefly, and to seek immediate assistance if a child shows signs of distress.
Have you experienced or witnessed heat-related dangers to children? Share your experiences and safety tips in the comments below.
