Hannah Faith Cormier Sentenced to 5 Years for Leaving 10-Month-Old Baby to Die in Hot Car While Working at Wendy’s

A Louisiana mother has been sentenced to five years in prison after her 10-month-old daughter tragically died after being left in a scorching hot car while she worked at a Wendy’s restaurant.

Hannah Faith Cormier, 33, left her infant daughter inside her vehicle for approximately two hours on August 13, 2024, while temperatures outside reached the low 90s, with a heat index of about 106°F. Investigators determined the interior of Cormier’s car reached a blistering 140°F, ultimately leading to the baby’s death.

Cormier brought her daughter to a local hospital that same day, but the infant succumbed to the heat-related injuries the following night. Police records indicate that Cormier told authorities she had “forgotten” the child was in her car, despite being at work for two hours.

She was arrested on August 18 and initially faced charges of cruelty to juveniles and second-degree murder, with her bond set at $1 million. A grand jury later indicted her on a charge of negligent homicide on October 2, 2024. Cormier pleaded no contest to that charge in July 2025.

Hannah Faith Cormier(Jeff Davis Parish jail)

Louisiana law mandates enhanced penalties for crimes involving victims under 10 years old, requiring imprisonment at hard labor for no less than two and no more than ten years. Judge Gunnell ultimately sentenced Cormier to five years, falling in the middle of the statutory range.

Jeff Davis Parish District Attorney Lauren Heinen released a statement following the sentencing:

“The death of any child is heartbreaking and losing this 10-month-old baby has deeply affected our whole community. No sentence can bring her back or take away the pain everyone feels. This was a difficult case with tragic circumstances, but every child deserves to be protected. We will continue to stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves.”

The tragic case has drawn national attention, highlighting the dangers of leaving children in hot vehicles and the devastating consequences of momentary lapses in care.