Event Brief
UPDATED Aug 29, 2026 at 9:00 AM ET
Aug 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Florida grandmother charged in toddler hot car death
By The BriefBrief
Winter Haven police arrested 74-year-old Karen Denise Benyard on Wednesday after a 17-month-old granddaughter died in a hot vehicle on March 31. Authorities say Benyard left the child in the car while napping, the toddler was found unresponsive, and an autopsy listed hyperthermia as the cause of death.
WHO: Karen Denise Benyard, 74; her 17-month-old granddaughter
WHAT: Charged with aggravated manslaughter in the hot-car death of a toddler
WHEN: Reported Aug 29, 2026 at 8:23 AM ET
WHERE: Winter Haven, Florida
WHY: The toddler died from hyperthermia after being left in a hot vehicle while Benyard went inside to nap.
How this story developed (showing 2 of 2 earlier reports)
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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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