Man sentenced for murdering son he left alone for hours in hot car
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Feb. 9, 2023) – The mother of the 14-month-old whose father left him to die in a hot car got to confront him in court this morning.
Vanessa Fraser says she feels like part of her was ripped away when her estranged husband ended their son Kyler’s life by intentionally leaving him in his carseat for (six) hours on a hot summer day.
“You killed my reason to live. You took my whole world away from me and lied to everyone. You left my baby alone and scared for six hours. No ruling can ever make amends for your actions and nothing can bring him back but I will be at every parole hearing to make sure you don’t ever get released.”
The father, 20-year-old Landon Parrott, knew he would be spending 15 years to life in prison when he pleaded guilty to counts of murder and endangering children.
“I was supposed to be a provider for my son and a provider for Vanessa, and I was terrible at that. I deserve life, and I don’t disagree with it at all.”
Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Ernest didn’t think there was anything he could say to bring comfort to Kyler’s loved ones but had a few words of advice for Parrott.
“If you are ever successful in getting out, I think that if there’s anything you can do to make amends for what you have done, it’s to live the best life you possibly can for Kyler, to show him the man that you should have been on that day.”
Parrott rushed Kyler to Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital after returning to the vehicle that afternoon but staff were unable to revive him. He told investigators he did it because he didn’t want the child to wake the couple’s roommate.