2-year-old found dead inside hot car in Georgia, but police say the child wasn't left there

A 2-year-old in Georgia died after being inside a hot car for a prolonged period of time. However, the Cobb County Police said the child had not been left inside the vehicle.

Authorities were alerted about a child, who was found unresponsive in a car in Marietta about an hour from Atlanta, around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Cobb County Police said in a statement. Officers with the department arrived at the scene to find the 2-year-old unresponsive. Authorities immediately transported the toddler to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Police said an investigation into the incident and cause of death is ongoing and that no criminal charges have been filed.

"There is no evidence to suggest that the child was left inside the vehicle," police said.

Sergeant Eric Smith, in a press conference Wednesday , said police have not yet determined how long the child was inside the car and how they ended up there. It is also not yet known if the car belonged to the child's parents.

While police did not specify the cause of death, Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer referred to the incident as a "hot car death." Meanwhile, in response to a question, Smith said the "ambient temperature" on Tuesday was in the 90s in the area, but it is not yet known what the temperature was inside the car at the time of the death.

Police chief requests support

VanHoozer, in Wednesday's press conference, also said his department would need time to sort out the facts of the case and figure out what happened. VanHoozer extended his condolences to the child's family and requested the community and public to offer support and grace as they investigate the case.

"I would ask just for support right now [so] we have time to sort out the facts of this case," VanHoozer said. "And we will do what is right, but we don't know right now whether or not criminal charges are warranted or whether or not outrage is warranted. But we do know that support is warranted."

Police said an investigation is ongoing and have requested anyone with information on the incident to call the Crimes Against Persons Unit at 770-499-3945.

6th child to die in a hot car this year

Kids and Cars , a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness on hot car deaths, in a statement said that Tuesday's tragedy was at least the 6th such incident in the country this year and the first in Georgia.

At least 46 children have died in hot cars in Georgia since 1993, the organization said, making the state the fifth highest when it comes to hot car deaths.

With summer temperatures soaring, Kids and Cars, urged parents to be extra vigilant when it comes to their children, especially when driving or traveling with them in the heat.

Tips to prevent summer tragedy: Child hot car deaths could happen in any family

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2-year-old found dead inside hot car in Georgia, but police say the child wasn't left there