Great-Grandparents Bonded Out Of Jail

— The greatgrandparents of a boy who died after being left in a hot car are free on bond, according to Springdale police.

William James Staten, 51, and Margette Inise Staten, 61, both of Springdale, were arrested about 2 p.m. Friday on a warrant for misdemeanor negligent homicide. Judge Ernest Cate set a bond of $25,000 each. Trial is set for Oct. 12 in Springdale District Court.

The Statens made bond Friday evening and were released.

Negligent homicide is a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Joniah Darius Chronister, 2, died after he was left in a car for more than two hours Aug. 3 in the Springdale Walmart parking lot. Police and fi refighters responded to a 911 call at 4:40 p.m. to fi nd the boy unresponsive and without a pulse.

The Statens told police they thought they had been in the store for 45 minutes. Security cameras at the store showed the boy was in the car alone for two hours and fi ve minutes.

The outside temperature at that time was 102 degrees, according to a news release from Springdale police.

The boy was taken to Northwest Medical Center-Springdale where he was pronounced dead. The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory determined the boy’s death was caused by environmental hyperthermia, which is a fatal heatstroke, according to police.

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