Mother charged in death of toddler left alone in hot vehicle

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (AP) - A New Jersey mom has been charged in the death of her toddler after the child allegedly was left alone in a hot car for more than two hours.

Ocean County prosecutors say 25-year-old Chaya Shurkin, of Lakewood, faces a child endangerment count.

Police went to the family's home on May 6 for reports of a child in distress. They found a neighbor attempting to perform CPR on the 21-month child, who was taken to a hospital but later died.

Authorities say the child's death occurred from being left alone in Shurkin's vehicle for an extended period of time. The child's name and gender have not been disclosed.

It's not clear why the child was left unattended.