Boy 3, Trapped in Car, Later Dies
His mother and her cousin find him after searching for at least an hour

John Chambliss
The Ledger
April 7, 2003


WINTER HAVEN -- A 3-year-old boy died Sunday after he apparently became trapped alone inside a car for at least an hour in the heat of the afternoon, Winter Haven police said.

Devontrius Nelson was found alive by his mother and her cousin in the back seat of a four-door white Cavalier outside the Palm Place apartment complex at 2401 First Street, N.W., officials said. He was taken to Winter Haven Hospital, where he died.

Police said it was too early to say how the boy died, and they are continuing to investigate. The results of an autopsy could be available today.

Devontrius had been playing with other children before he disappeared, police said.

Relatives told Winter Haven police investigators they had been searching for the boy for at least an hour before he was found, Winter Haven police said.

When he was found in the car about 4 p.m., all the windows in the Cavalier were closed, police said.

Relatives called emergency workers who arrived at the complex and performed CPR on the boy as he was rushed to the hospital.

Investigators spoke with Devontrius' mother, Lakesha Nelson, and other relatives Sunday at the hospital.

A spokesman for the Police Department said it is possible the child opened the door and climbed inside.

"A 3-year-old can open a car door," said police spokesman J.J. Stanton.

Firefighters said there were no signs of external injuries on the child.

Outside the hospital Sunday evening, Nelson and her relatives left in the Cavalier where Devontrius had been trapped hours earlier.

"I just want to know how and why this happened," said Patricia Robbins, Lakesha Nelson's aunt.

Nelson and Devontrius' father, Derek Whitfield, declined to comment. A relative said that Nelson also has a daughter.

John Chambliss can be reached at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7539.