Man with Special Needs Dies After Caretaker Allegedly Leaves Him Alone in Hot Car: Police

Mar. 15, 2025

Dontarious “Donte” Batts.Photo:Tierra Blackston and Tiquana Bradberry/GoFundMe

Tierra Blackston and Tiquana Bradberry/GoFundMe

A North Carolina man with special needs is dead after his caretaker allegedlyleft him alone in a hot vehicle for hours, police say.

The victim has been identified as Dontarious Batts, a patient believed to be in his early to mid-20s.

According to the news station, a phone call came in to Johnston County 911 Communications with a man, later identified as 55-year-old Rogers Lee Inge Jr., allegedly telling them he was responsible for the death of a person in his care who had been left in his vehicle.

While on the phone, the dispatcher instructed Inge to pull over at a fire department located at 9039 Cleveland Road in Clayton where EMS, fire personnel and deputies with the JCSO met him.

Inge, an employee of Universal Health Care who took care of Batts, allegedly told deputies that he brought Batts to work with him earlier that day at his second job at Cleveland High School where he worked as a janitor,WRALreported.

Cleaning Equipment — stock image.Prapass Pulsub/Getty

Prapass Pulsub/Getty

He reportedly told police that he left Batts in the car with the windows up and the engine off at 8 a.m., adding that he returned to the car to check on him around 10 a.m. and Batts seemed to be okay.

Inge completed his work day at Cleveland High School, and when he went back to his vehicle around 4:17 p.m., Batts had died, according to WRAL.

“I didn’t think it was that hot today. I didn’t check on him. I forgot. I was working,” he reportedly continued.

ABC 11’s First Alert Weather Team said the temperature in the area reached 81 degrees that day. The news station also referred to theNational Weather Service, who warned that the inside of a vehicle parked in the sun can exceed up to 50 degrees higher than what temperatures are outdoors.

car in parking lot — stock image.Tom Penpark/Getty

Tom Penpark/Getty

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As of Thursday, Aug. 22, Blackston and Bradberry had exceeded their $2,500 GoFundMe goal.

source: people.com