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Edward M. Kanterman, 59, of Sayers Avenue, forgot to drop off his grandson at daycare June 10 and instead drove to work, leaving 14-month-old Nicholas McCorkle in the back seat, strapped in a carseat for more than five hours. Temperatures reached the mid-90s that day, and by the time Kanterman returned, Nicholas, who was drenched in sweat, was blue and struggling to breathe, according to a police affidavit. His temperature was 107.2 degrees. Four days later, doctors told the child's parents that he was brain dead. Nicholas died at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia June 14, shortly after he was taken off life support.
Police have said they don't believe Kanterman deliberately left his grandson in the car, and Nicholas's mother, Rebecca Kanterman, has said she does not blame her father.
Delaware District Attorney G. Michael Green, however, said Kanterman showed "gross negligence" when he forgot a child in a car during a dangerous heat wave that had been a top news story for several days. Nicholas relied on Kanterman for his survival, and Kanterman's failure left Nicholas unable to save himself, Green said.
"Who is the voice of a 14-month-old child?" Green said at a press conference yesterday. "We heard that voice."
Kanterman was led into a Marple courtroom in handcuffs yesterday and later released on $10,000 unsecured bail. Judge John P. Capuzzi Sr., scheduled a hearing for August 11.
Involuntary manslaughter involving a victim less than 12 years of age becomes a felony charge, Green said, and Kanterman could face a maximum of 10 years in prison. But Green said it was too early to discuss whether Kanterman would serve time.
Kanterman did not answer reporters' questions as he left court yesterday. His attorney, Eugene A. Bonner, said the charge only adds to the family's grief.
"I don't know what punishment more than he's already suffered, what good that would do," Bonner said in a telephone interview yesterday. "He's already being punished every day for the rest of his life. It's horrifying, and bringing charges just makes it a double tragedy."
About 36 children die each year from heat-related illness after being left in cars, said Janette E. Fennell, founder and president of the national nonprofit advocacy group Kids and Cars. Nicholas was the seventh child to die this year nationally, and the organization has found the numbers increasing as more parents put their children in backseats to avoid the dangers of front-seat airbags.
In a similar case in 2002, Calvin Howell, then 54, forgot to drop his 21-month-old granddaughter at a babysitter's house before he went to work and left the girl in his car. Howell, of Southwest Philadelphia, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, and reckless endangerment. He pleaded guilty in 2003 and was sentenced to five years of probation and 100 hours of community service.
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