Indiana toddler son dies in hot car after mom had 5 drinks (or more).

Christopher Koulouris: About author bio at bottom of article.

September 7, 2018

Britni Nicole Wihebrink a Daleville, Indiana mother is arrested after her two year old son dies in a hot car after her passing out from five or more alcoholic drinks Wednesday morning.

A Daleville, Indiana mother whose two year old son died after being left in a hot car has told of having at least five drinks before taking a nap for several hours.

Upon waking up Wednesday with a hangover, Britni Nicole Wihebrink, 28 told investigators, drinking two wine coolers circa 11am, followed by three or four bourbon drinks — and possibly more drinks, before taking a nap about 1 or 2 p.m. according to a probable cause affidavit.

Her son, 2-year-old Jaxon Stults, was found ‘very hot and stiff’ on the rear floorboard of her car about 6:30 p.m., with the boy pronounced dead in an ambulance on the way to a hospital, the affidavit said.

During interviews the mother told investigators had ‘a really good buzz and having a bad drinking problem,’.Wihebrink indicated she was drinking ‘to help her hangover from the night before,’ and did not recall many of Wednesday’s events.

Investigators found seven empty 50-ml Jim Beam bottles in her purse and apartment.

Wihebrink is being held without bond on a preliminary charge of neglect of a dependent leading to death. The felony 1 charge carrying up to a 40 year prison sentence. Court records don’t list her lawyer.

Investigation launched to decide what charges to file against Britni Nicole Wihebrink:

An autopsy was planned Thursday. Delaware County deputy coroner Zach Crouch told The Star Press the death likely was heat-related.

The Daleville Police Department and sheriff’s department released a statement saying they were conducting a joint probe into the child’s death.

‘The investigation is ongoing and is nowhere near complete,’ Chief Deputy Prosecutor Eric Hoffman said in a news release. ‘In the coming days, the prosecutor’s office will review the facts and the evidence and determine what criminal charges may be filed.’

Hoffman said it would be ‘improper and inappropriate to provide any further comment or details of this investigation.’

The National Weather Service said high temperatures topped 90 Wednesday in the Daleville area about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis.

Not immediately clear is when exactly the mother’s child was ‘left’ in the vehicle and why it wasn’t by evening time that the mother only discovered the whereabouts of her child….