A caretaker from Johnston County has been charged with involuntary manslaughter following the death of a special needs man he left in his car while working at Cleveland High School.
Police stated that 55-year-old Rogers Lee Inge Jr. from Warrenton, N.C., claimed to be the primary caregiver for 25-year-old Dontarius Batts, who had special needs. Inge explained to investigators that Batts was unable to care for himself, which was why he took on that responsibility. He also mentioned that he held two jobs: one at Universal Health Care and another as a janitor at Cleveland High School.
Suspect left special needs man in car while at second job at Cleveland High School
Investigators reported that Inge took Batts to work with him at the high school at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, leaving him in the car with the windows up and the engine off. Inge stated that when he returned to the car at 10 a.m., Batts appeared to be fine, so he went back to work
However, Batts remained in the car until 4:17 p.m., when Inge returned to find him deceased. Inge allegedly drove Batts’ body to a fire station on Cleveland Road in Clayton while calling 911. Deputies met him at the fire station and discovered Batts‘ body inside the vehicle.
As a result, Johnston County deputies charged Inge with involuntary manslaughter and took him into custody.
Heat may be cause of death
Jeff Caldwell, a Major with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, said investigators believe Batts died from heat exposure in the car. Weather reports indicated that temperatures reached 81 degrees on Tuesday, but inside a car, temperatures can soar to 109 degrees within 20 minutes and 123 degrees within an hour when it is 80 degrees outside.
Inge was taken to the Johnston County jail, where he was held on a $35,000 bond. He is no longer employed with Johnston County Schools.
