A 43-year-old Kansas father, Tyler James Pence, has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated endangerment of a child resulting in bodily harm after leaving his two young children inside a sweltering vehicle for over two hours, leading to the death of his 3-year-old daughter and severe injury to his 1-year-old son.
Incident Details
The tragic incident occurred on September 3, 2025, near K-10 and Kill Creek Road in De Soto, Kansas. Pence reportedly left his children inside a Buick Encore while he went into work for his shift. According to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Pence later called 911, claiming he had been driving around with his children when he noticed one of them was no longer breathing, and that it was “really hot” in the car.
Upon arriving, emergency responders found the 3-year-old girl already dead and the 1-year-old boy suffering from heat-related injuries. Despite lifesaving efforts, the boy was later transported to the hospital and was eventually able to recover. Investigators determined that the children had been left in the car for more than two hours.
Inconsistent Statements and Investigation
Pence’s statements to authorities about the incident raised suspicions. He claimed that he had left his home around 4 p.m. to look at apartments, stating that he had only been driving for about 20 minutes when the medical emergency began.
However, surveillance footage from his workplace contradicted this story. The footage showed Pence arriving at his job at 2:59 p.m., leaving both children in the vehicle for the entire duration of his shift.
Pence had worked for more than two hours, from 2:59 p.m. to 5:19 p.m., before calling 911 just minutes after finishing his shift. Investigators also found evidence that contradicted his claims about the car’s air conditioning. While Pence had said it wasn’t working, emergency responders noted the A/C was running on low and the fan was set to full power.
Extreme Temperatures and Lack of Care
The investigation revealed that the outside temperature reached approximately 85 degrees on the day of the incident. However, it is believed that the interior temperature of the vehicle could have reached as high as 130 degrees, leading to severe heatstroke and death. Deputies also observed crumbs and juice on the car’s floor, which suggested the toddlers had no access to food or water while locked inside.
Legal Consequences
Pence was arrested and is currently being held at Johnson County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on July 9, 2025. His arrest came after a thorough investigation involving the Medical Examiner’s Office, hospital staff, and police, who collaborated to piece together the events that led to the tragic death of his daughter.
This case highlights the devastating consequences of leaving children in a vehicle on a warm day and the neglect that can result in tragic loss and irreversible harm.
