Alabama Baby Dies After Mother Left Him In Car Following Dumpster Diving Outing In Middle Of Night

A jury trial is set to begin in May for an Alabama woman accused of going out dumpster diving with her 1-year-old child, who died after she left him in her vehicle overnight upon returning home, officials said.

In October 2019, 13-month-old Casen Case was found unresponsive and buckled into a front-facing car seat that wasn’t strapped in, WHNT reported.

Investigators determined Casen was in the vehicle while his mother, Elizabeth Case, traveled between Limestone and Madison Counties dumpster diving.

Case got back home around 5:40 a.m. and went to bed, leaving Casen in the car, according to authorities.

The mother didn’t wake up until around 1:30 p.m., when Casen’s grandmother came over to see the boy and started banging on the door when she couldn’t find him, authorities said.

The two searched for Casen and located him inside the vehicle.

Instead of seeking immediate medical help, investigators said Case took her child inside and placed him in the shower.

Meanwhile, the grandmother called 911, got in her vehicle with the baby and Case and headed to the hospital.

Authorities said Case was a known drug user and was out of jail on bond for a first-degree robbery charge at the time of the incident.

On Jan. 3, 2020, she was indicted for capital murder and pleaded not guilty.

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In 2021, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed by Casen’s aunt against Case and the Department of Human Resources over the toddler’s death.

The lawsuit claims DHR failed to take appropriate action and left Casen with his mother despite her being in and out of jail while she was pregnant with him.

The suit also states multiple reports were filed with DHR stating Case was abusing and neglecting Casen and claims DHR knew about Casen’s drug use and criminal history, which reportedly includes theft, domestic violence, DUI and drug possession.

Case's jury trial is scheduled to begin on May 15, officials said.