A mother was sentenced to state prison for leaving her two young daughters in a hot car at a casino, resulting in their tragic deaths. Launice Shanique Battle, aged 30, of Cary, N.C., left her two daughters, aged two and three, in the back seat of the vehicle while she was gambling at Vegas Style Sweepstakes gaming property in Raleigh, N.C. The girls were left unsupervised for over six hours on a hot summer day, leading to their untimely demise.
As a result of her actions, Battle was sentenced to between 94 and 125 months in prison by Wake County Superior Court Judge Rebecca W. Holt. Initially facing more than 80 years in prison on two counts of murder, Battle accepted responsibility for her criminal conduct and pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree murder, leading to a reduced sentence.
The tragic incident came to light when Battle returned to the car to find her daughters unresponsive and rushed them to Duke Raleigh Hospital, where they were declared dead. Medical reports indicated that the girls’ bodies had already started to decompose, and their cause of death was determined to be hyperthermia.
Despite the devastating outcome, Battle’s cousin, Keisha Harris, defended her as a caring and loving mother. However, Child Protective Services had investigated Battle multiple times between 2019 and 2022. Amora, the older daughter, had a history of complex medical issues, including chromosome deletion, congenital heart disease, and other health complications.
The autopsy revealed that the girls were left in the car for six hours on a hot day with temperatures reaching 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Battle was arrested the day after the incident, and her sentencing serves as a reminder of the tragic consequences of leaving children unattended in dangerous situations. It is crucial for parents and caregivers to prioritize the safety and well-being of children at all times to prevent such heartbreaking incidents from reoccurring.
