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Peoria PD: Jose Garcia Jr and Monique Avila arrested in death of 5-month-old left in hot car Sunday

Posted at 8:20 AM, Oct 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-03 21:20:52-04

The Peoria Police Department says two people have been arrested in the death of a 5-month old boy that was allegedly left in a hot car Sunday.

Twenty-three-year-old Monique Avila, Israel Avila's aunt, and her boyfriend, 18-year-old Jose Garcia Jr., were arrested and booked on one count each of felony child abuse.

According to police, Garcia and Avila admitted to police that they were supposed to be watching the infant, but forgot he was in the car for three or four hours.

Court paperwork indicates Avila told police she and Garcia were going to pick up Israel's mom at work around 2:30 p.m., and that's when Avila realized the baby had been left in the backseat.

Temperatures outside the apartment complex, located near 85th and Peoria avenues, ranged from 77 to 84 degrees on Sunday. Temperatures inside the car were estimated to be 101 to 104 degrees.

It appears Avila called 911 at 2:47 p.m., 17 minutes after the baby was found in the back seat.

"The child wasn't breathing upon our arrival," Peoria police spokesperson Brandon Sheffert said. "At that point, the child was transported to the hospital where the little boy was pronounced dead."

Police say additional charges could still be added against the two suspects.

Garcia and Avila are each being held on a $100,000 bond.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for Israel here.