Child dies in car as mother starts new job

ATLANTA - Nakia Burgess had a new job as a transcriptionist at an Atlanta office, but she didn&#39;t have anyone to take care of her three-year-old girl. <br> <br> Her plan, according to her lawyer: Park the car, strap Ashante -- who had Down&#39;s Syndrome -- in a carseat, crack the windows and stick around long enough to keep her job, checking on her daughter whenever possible. <br> <br> The first time she went to the car, Burgess found the toddler playing with a chalkboard. But by the time she returned again, less than 90 minutes after arriving at work, she found Ashante unconscious. <br> <br> The child died after arriving at a hospital, where doctors said her temperature was 108 degrees. Police charged the 28-year-old Burgess with murder and cruelty to children. <br> <br> The high temperature in Atlanta was 85, and temperatures inside cars closed cars can climb 40 degrees higher. The windows were cracked, but the car was exposed to the sun. <br> <br> Burgess&#39; attorney, Phinia Aten, said her client is not a murderer. <br> <br> Aten said, ``She is extremely remorseful about what happened. This was her only child. At this point, her life has no meaning to her.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Burgess moved to Georgia from the Trenton, New Jersey area in February. She had been living with her sister and earning money through temporary jobs and Ashante&#39;s Social Security disability payments -- from $50 to $100 a month. <br> <br> Aten said Burgess was supposed to start a new temporary job Monday, but she was having trouble finding affordable child care. <br> <br> Burgess wept during a brief hearing today and was placed on suicide watch at the Atlanta-Fulton County Jail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for November 5.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/10/189323