Infant dies after being left in sweltering car

GREENFIELD — A 4-month-old girl left in a vehicle in 105-degree heat died Saturday.

Police later arrested the infant's father, who faces felony charges.

According to Chief John Jester of the Greenfield Police Department, officers were called to the 100 block of Eikenberry Street in Greenfield around 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon after receiving a 911 call about a baby not breathing. By the time police arrived, the girl already had been rushed to Hancock Regional Hospital a short distance away.

Details are still sketchy, but police were able to determine that the child had been left in an automobile "for an extended period of time" on an afternoon when the high temperature hit a record 105 degrees, Jester said. The child's grandfather apparently discovered her and rushed her to the hospital. She could not be revived.

Early Saturday evening, police arrested the girl's father, Josh Stryzinski, 18, on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. He had driven with his daughter to his family's home on Saturday; it was not clear whether he lives there or was visiting. Police are still trying to piece together events that led up to the girl's death.

The child's grandfather and Josh Stryzinski's father, Ronald Stryzinski, is a teacher at Greenfield-Central High School.

Jester said officials from the Hancock County prosecutors office will determine Monday whether charges against Josh Stryzinski will change. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday. Jester said GPD, the county coroner, the prosecutor's office and child welfare officials are investigating. Stryzinski was booked Saturday evening into the Hancock County Jail.

More details will be added to this story as they become available.