Murder Charge Possible for Brookwood Dad for Baby's Hot Car Death

A father from Brookwood, already charged with manslaughter, may see that charge upgraded to felony murder over the death of his 13-month-old child in a hot car on Wednesday.

At a press conference on Thursday, Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the multi-agency Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said a large number of paramedics and first responders were called to Stone Ridge Court in Brookwood.

The investigator said 30-year-old Logan Keith Chewning had been left alone with a baby just over 1-year-old while the child’s mother went to work.

The victim’s grandmother reportedly came by the house that Chewning shares with his partner and the baby because she could not get in touch with the 30-year-old man. Kennedy said he was not immediately sure if the grandmother was paternal or maternal.

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Upon arrival, the woman could not find the baby - until she discovered him strapped into a car seat. Kennedy said the VCU believes the infant was left in the car for multiple hours and was dead when he was discovered by the family.

The VCU reports that Chewning admitted to drinking most of the day on Wednesday, and he reportedly left the house at one point to buy more alcohol. He told officers that he thought the baby was inside the house, sleeping in a crib, and must have been accidentally left in the car seat.

The alleged negligence was enough for the VCU to arrest Chewning and charge him with manslaughter on Wednesday night. Kennedy said that the charge may ultimately be upgraded to felony murder.

"In most cases, manslaughter is an unlawful killing due to a sudden heat of violence or passion, but that’s not the case here. Another way manslaughter can apply is if you engage in reckless behavior that results in the death of another,” Kennedy said. “The investigation is ongoing, and we’re still awaiting the full autopsy results. We have multiple items out for forensic testing as always, and when we get all of those back, there's a chance these charges could be raised to murder or felony murder."

Kennedy said police reported Chewning smelled of alcohol during their interviews with him, and that his blood was collected for testing. He also said the 30-year-old father showed remorse over the tragic death, which impacted all who saw it.

"This is a terrible tragedy for every person who responded on it," Kennedy said. "Every single person, from the medics to law enforcement, was affected by their time on the scene."

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