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Mother plans to plead guilty in heat-related death of two-year-old son

Child died after being left inside car
Posted at 6:27 PM, Feb 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-20 19:26:13-05

MUNCIE — A central Indiana woman plans to plead guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in death, in connection with the 2018 hot car death of her 2-year old son.

Britni Wihebrink has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, and is facing a sentence from 20 to 30 years, according to Delaware County prosecutor Eric Hoffman.

A change of plea hearing is scheduled for March 25.

Authorities said Wihebrink had been drinking and was taking a nap when her 2-year-old son crawled into a hot car and later died.

READ | Mother charged after 2-year-old son left in hot car dies

A probable cause affidavit says her son, the child, Jaxon Stults, was found “very hot and stiff” in her car Sept. 5, 2018 and died in an ambulance.

The toddler was left inside a car at the Salem Place Apartments in Daleville, southwest of Muncie. Jaxon died on the way to the hospital. The coroner ruled it death from heat exhaustion.