Video: Father charged with aggravated manslaughter in death of 18-month-old

Date Added: June 19, 2025 5:52 pm

IN CUSTODY: Today, VSO deputies and the Ormond Beach Police Department arrested Scott Allen Gardner, 33, on charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect causing great bodily harm.

Gardner is responsible for the death of his 18-month-old son Sebastian, who was left helpless in a hot truck for more than 3 hours on the afternoon of Friday, June 6, while Gardner got a haircut and then went drinking inside Hanky Panky's Lounge.

During the investigation, Gardner gave multiple false accounts of what occurred that day.

It was estimated by medical personnel that Sebastian's body temperature reached 111 degrees during this tragedy. The same OBPD officer who tried to revive Sebastian placed Gardner in handcuffs today as he was taken into custody at his mother's home in Ormond Beach.

Sheriff Chitwood will provide more details of the investigation on Friday. Video will be posted on this page.

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UPDATE (6/20/25):

Today, Sheriff Chitwood, Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey and detectives from VSO and OBPD provided details of the joint investigation into Scott Gardner, charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child in the death of his 18-month-old son Sebastian.