Event Brief
UPDATED Aug 29, 2026 at 9:00 AM ET
Aug 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Grandmother Charged in Winter Haven Hot Car Death
By The BriefBrief
A 74-year-old grandmother, Karen Denise Benyard, was arrested Aug. 26, 2026, and booked into the Polk County Jail on a first-degree felony aggravated manslaughter charge. Winter Haven police say the 17-month-old died after being left in a car on March 31, 2026, while Benyard parked and went inside.
WHO: Karen Denise Benyard, 74; Winter Haven police; the 17-month-old granddaughter
WHAT: Charged with first-degree felony aggravated manslaughter of a child in connection with a hot car death
WHEN: Aug 26, 2026
WHERE: Polk County, Florida
WHY: No specific cause was reported beyond the event itself.
How this story developed (showing 2 of 2 earlier reports)
Reporting from 3 identified publishers across this event arc.
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How this brief is built: The BriefBrief correlates multiple sources into one evolving event brief, updated as new facts emerge.
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