Girl found unconscious in car taken off life support

Michael Ferraresi
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 15, 2005 01:50 PM

SCOTTSDALE - A 4-year-old girl found unconscious earlier this week in her mother's car died Wednesday at Phoenix Children's Hospital.

Haley Gray was unsupervised when she wandered into the car parked in an uncovered space in a Scottsdale apartment complex Saturday, police said.

The girl's mother, Celene Gray, 24, is being investigated for possible child endangerment. The Scottsdale police case will soon be transferred to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
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The girl was taken off life support Wednesday.

Police found the girl after the mother called to report her daughter missing Saturday from her apartment in the 4400 block of North 78th Street.

The mother told police she drank alcohol and fell asleep that day, leaving her three young children without adult supervision.

The county attorney's office will likely receive the case this week or early next week, police said.

Scottsdale Fire officials urged parents to lock the doors on vacant cars and to watch children around vehicles.

The summer heat has faded slightly, although the temperatures inside cars still can rise to dangerous levels in the sun, especially for young children. Car temperatures can rise to 122 degrees in 20 minutes, Scottsdale Fire officials said.