Texas father's trial gets underway after he was charged over the death of his baby daughter who was 'left in a hot car and then put in the freezer before 911 was called'

  • Michael Thedford, 35, was charged with manslaughter after his six-month-old daughter Fern was found dead at their home in Texas in 2016
  • The father-of-three's trial started in Collins County Court on Tuesday
  • Prosecutors argued that Thedford was responsible for his daughter's death and that he lied and tried to cover it up
  • Thedford had dropped his two older children at daycare on the morning of June 21, 2016 but returned home and allegedly forgot Fern was still in the car 
  • Authorities say Thedford woke after a four-hour nap and found Fern unresponsive in the car 
  • Thedford allegedly put Fern in the freezer before calling 911 for help 

By Emily Crane For Dailymail.com

Published: 18:32 EDT, 17 July 2018 | Updated: 18:59 EDT, 17 July 2018

A Texas father's trial is now underway after he was charged in the death of his baby daughter who was left in a hot car and then allegedly put in the freezer before 911 was called.  

Michael Thedford, 35, faced Collins County court on Tuesday for the first day of his trial following his six-month-old daughter Fern's death in June 2016.  

Prosecutors argued that Thedford, who was charged with manslaughter and other charges, was responsible for Fern's death and that he lied and tried to cover it up, Dallas Morning News reports. 

On the morning Fern died two years ago, Thedford had dropped his two older children - aged three and five - at daycare. 

Michael Thedford, 35, faced Collins County court in Texas on Tuesday for the first day of his trial following his six-month-old daughter Fern's death in June 2016

Fern was sick with an ear infection and was to spend the day with her father at home instead of going to the school.

Surveillance video showed that Fern remained in the car in the 90-degree heat while Thedford took his two older children inside. 

Thedford worked as a school teacher and was off on summer vacation at the time, while the children's mother and his wife, Jennifer, went to work.  

The father had claimed it was this change in routine that made him forget about the baby inside the car. When he returned home, Thedford allegedly went inside and fell asleep.

It wasn't until his wife called that afternoon that Thedford ran outside to the car and found his baby unresponsive, the court head on Tuesday.

At the time, Thedford called 911 saying that he had just woken from his four-hour nap and found his baby dead. 

Thedford is accused of leaving six-month-old Fern in the family car (pictured above courtesy of CBS) outside their Texas home for four hours in the 90-degree heat in June 2016

Thedford is accused of leaving six-month-old Fern in the family car (pictured above courtesy of CBS) outside their Texas home for four hours in the 90-degree heat in June 2016

On the morning Fern died two years ago, Thedford had dropped his two older children - aged three and five - at daycare. His wife and the children's mother Jennifer was at work at the time

On the morning Fern died two years ago, Thedford had dropped his two older children - aged three and five - at daycare. His wife and the children's mother Jennifer was at work at the time

Prosecutors say Thedford told the 911 operator that Fern had been in a bassinet next to his bed and that the bedroom was air-conditioned.  

'She's stiff but not cold,' he told the 911 dispatcher. He added that Fern had a fever earlier that day and had been 'burning hot to the touch.' 

Thedford gave his daughter CPR until first responders arrived. 

Melissa Fire Captain Alan Sheehy, who was among the first responders, testified in court that he saw the family car door open outside and that the fridge drawers were open. 

'My gut feeling was telling me something wasn't right,' Sheehy told the court.

Thedford's defense attorney, Bruce Anton, argued that the father had simply forgot Fern was in the car and that it wasn't a crime. 

'It's a tragic event. It's a tragic consequence,' Anton said.  

Thedford was charged with manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse and abandoning or endangering a child.

He is facing up to 20 years in prison.  

Melissa Fire Captain Alan Sheehy testified in court that he saw the family car door open outside (above) when first responders arrived. Thedford had initially told a dispatcher that Fern had been sleeping in a bassinet by his bed

Melissa Fire Captain Alan Sheehy testified in court that he saw the family car door open outside (above) when first responders arrived. Thedford had initially told a dispatcher that Fern had been sleeping in a bassinet by his bed

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Texas father's trial starts after he's charged with his baby's death

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