A 22-month-old Georgia boy died after being left in a car seat at home; his parents were arrested on murder and child cruelty charges.

A 22-month-old boy in Dalton, Georgia, died on June 5, 2025, after being left unattended in a car seat on the living room floor, according to police. His parents, Kirsten Schmitt, 26, and Anthony Pedigo, 30, were arrested on September 22 and face second-degree murder and child cruelty charges. Authorities said the child was found unresponsive after his parents returned from a 30- to 40-minute stay in the bedroom. Investigators determined injuries consistent with the seat belt and buckle being around his neck. The parents had routinely left the toddler buckled in the car seat while watching TV, a practice they described as normal. The case has raised concerns about child safety and supervision in home environments.