In a heartbreaking incident that underscores the importance of accountability and moral responsibility, a 22-year-old special-needs man tragically lost his life after being abandoned in a scorching hot car by the very person entrusted with his care. This avoidable tragedy unfolded in North Carolina on Tuesday when Rogers Lee Inge Jr., a caretaker employed by Universal Health Care, allegedly left Dontarious Batts in a locked vehicle for over six hours while he worked a second job.
Inge, who was supposed to be caring for Batts, instead made the unconscionable decision to take him along to his janitorial job at Cleveland High School in Clayton, NC. According to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, Inge arrived at the school for his 8 a.m. shift, leaving Batts in the car with the windows up and the engine off—a deadly combination as temperatures began to rise.
Two hours into his shift, Inge reportedly checked on Batts and claimed that the young man appeared to be fine. But instead of immediately taking him out of the car, Inge chose to return to work, leaving Batts trapped inside the sweltering vehicle for several more hours. By the time Inge returned to the car at 4:17 p.m., Batts was unresponsive.
Realizing the dire situation, Inge drove to a local fire station in Clinton with Batts’ lifeless body still in the vehicle. He called 911 en route, but it was too late. Authorities met him at the station and declared Batts dead on the scene.
In a move that underscores the severity of his negligence, Inge, 55, was taken into custody and charged with involuntary manslaughter. The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case, with initial findings suggesting that Batts died due to the extreme heat inside the car. Temperatures in the area reached 81 degrees that day, but inside the locked vehicle, they likely soared to lethal levels. The CDC warns that on an 80-degree day, the temperature inside a car can skyrocket to 109 degrees in just 20 minutes and can reach 123 degrees within an hour.
Inge’s actions not only resulted in a senseless death but also raise serious questions about the system that allowed someone with such poor judgment to be responsible for the care of a vulnerable individual. This tragedy highlights the critical need for rigorous oversight and accountability in caregiving roles, especially for those who are most vulnerable and unable to advocate for themselves.
As for Inge, he now faces the consequences of his shocking neglect. He has been fired from his position with Johnston County Public Schools, where he was employed as a janitor, and is being held in the Johnston County jail under a $35,000 bond.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences that can arise when those entrusted with the care of the vulnerable fail in their duties. The loss of Dontarious Batts is a devastating blow to his family and community, and a chilling example of what happens when moral responsibility is ignored.
