John Jefferson
Left inset: Rogers Lee Inge Jr. (Johnston County Sheriff). Right inset: Dontarius Batts (GoFundMe). Background: The high school parking lot where Batts died in a hot car in North Carolina (WNCN/YouTube).
A North Carolina caregiver who admitted he left a nonverbal man with autism to die in a hot car while he worked a second job as a school janitor faces an involuntary manslaughter charge, authorities said.
Rogers Lee Inge Jr., 55, was arrested on Tuesday in the death of Dontarius Batts, 22, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The series of events leading up to Batts’ death started at 8 a.m. on Tuesday when Inge left Batts in his car in the parking lot at Cleveland High School in Clayton, nearly 20 miles southeast of Raleigh, the Sheriff’s Office said. Inge returned to his car and checked on Batts at 10 a.m., later telling police that “he was fine.” But when Inge returned to his vehicle at the end of his shift over six hours later at 4:17 p.m., Batts was dead, officials said.
Inge left the school and called 911 at 4:43 p.m. to report “he was responsible for the death of an individual who was in his vehicle,” officials said.
“It’s my fault,” Inge said in the call through tears, according to audio obtained by local NBC affiliate WRAL reported. “I didn’t think it was that hot today. I didn’t check on him. I forgot. I was working.”
The 911 call taker told Inge to stop driving and pull over at a nearby fire station so help could be sent to his location. There, first responders declared Batts dead in the vehicle and booked Inge into the Johnston County Jail.
The cause and manner of death haven’t been disclosed, but officials said heat was a factor. Clayton recorded a high temperature of 82 degrees that day.
Inge told investigators he was a full-time caregiver for Batts and a janitor at the high school, authorities said. The Johnston County Public Schools said Inge was terminated from his job, local ABC affiliate WTVD reported.
On GoFundMe, Batts’ family said they were devastated over the loss of the man, who was nonverbal and had autism.
“Words can’t express the hurt I feel writing this,” the page said. “During this incredibly difficult time, we are reaching out for support to help cover the unforeseen expenses that have arisen for my mother as she grieves. Any contribution, no matter the size, would be greatly appreciated as we navigate this devastating loss and honor his memory.”
Inge was released on $35,000 bond, online jail and court records show. He’s set to appear in court on Sept. 26.
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