Police investigate father of child found dead in locked car in Valls

Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra police are investigating the father of the child found dead in a locked car in Valls on Tuesday. The parent is under investigation for the offence of gross negligence manslaughter.

Sources told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) that the man was not in a state to testify on Tuesday, after the news broke, and therefore, he would give his statement on Wednesday at the police station.

The case will then be moved to a deputy judge in Valls, who is awaiting the police report.

The toddler had reportedly been in the car for several hours – around four or five – while the father was at work.

The main working theory is that it was an oversight by the parent, who realized the child was still in the car around lunchtime.

Firefighters were alerted at 3:06pm and dispatched a unit to the scene.

After gaining access to the car, emergency services attempted to resuscitate the child, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Minute of silence

More than 150 Valls residents gathered on Wednesday at midday in front of the city hall to express their condolences and support to friends and family members.

"We were left in shock when we heard the tragic news. We are very sad; it has been a tragedy for the city. We had never experienced something like this," mayor Dolors Farré said after holding a minute of silence.

The council has declared two official days of mourning.