Key facts
- A Florida appeals court reversed the felony murder conviction of Rhonda Jewell.
- Jewell accidentally left 10-month-old Ariya Paige in her car, leading to the baby's death from hyperthermia.
- The court found that the felony murder charge required proof of intent, which was not met in this case.
- Jewell was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
- The court called for the case to be remanded for a new trial.
A Florida appeals court has reversed the felony murder conviction of Rhonda Jewell, a woman who accidentally left a 10-month-old baby, Ariya Paige, in her car, leading to the child's death. The court found that the felony murder charge, which typically requires proof of intent for the underlying felony, was improperly applied in a case of accidental death.
Jewell was babysitting four children in July 2023 when she forgot Ariya was in the back seat of her car. The baby died of hyperthermia in the Florida summer heat. Jewell was subsequently convicted of third-degree felony murder, predicated on the felony of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle, and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
On Wednesday, Florida's first district court of appeal overturned both convictions. The court stated that third-degree felony murder cannot be based on an unenumerated predicate felony that does not require proof of intent. The appellate court called for the case to be remanded to the trial court for a new trial.
This case has highlighted debates surrounding the felony murder doctrine, a legal theory where individuals involved in a felony that results in death can be held criminally responsible for that death, even if they did not intend to kill anyone. Critics argue that such statutes can lead to disproportionate outcomes in cases of accidental death.
According to Kids and Car Safety, over 650 children in the U.S. have died after being accidentally left in hot cars since 1990. These deaths often occur when caregivers are stressed, distracted, or navigating a change in routine. It is rare for prosecutors to bring felony murder charges in such cases.