Little Rock, AR — A married couple, Justin Rollins and Deja Rollins, face multiple felony charges following the death of their 2-year-old son, Jay’Dien Rollins, who succumbed to apparent heat exhaustion after being left unattended in a hot car outside Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). The couple was at the hospital with their 3-year-old child, who was reportedly a victim of abuse.
Authorities announced that Justin and Deja Rollins were taken into custody over the weekend and charged with one count each of capital murder in connection with Jay’Dien’s death. The incident came to light when officers responded to a call about potential child abuse involving the 3-year-old at ACH on Sunday afternoon, July 7. The child required urgent medical treatment for severe injuries.
During the investigation, officers learned that the couple had four other children, aged 2, 4, 7, and 10. Initially, Justin and Deja Rollins were uncooperative in disclosing the whereabouts of the other children.
Authorities eventually discovered that all four children had accompanied their parents to the hospital. The 2-year-old Jay’Dien and his siblings were left in the car, leading to the tragic death of Jay’Dien.
At 12:42 p.m., Little Rock Police Department officers were dispatched to the children’s hospital and informed of the child abuse report from the Jacksonville Police Department involving the Rollinses. Both parents now face serious charges as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the abuse and the fatal incident.