She Was Drinking & Forgot Her 3-Year-Old In A Hot Car, Police Say

She Was Drinking & Forgot Her 3-Year-Old In A Hot Car. He Died. She Got 2 Years.

On June 28, 2025, at around 2:40 p.m., emergency crews responded to the 3400 block of Hawthorn Drive Southwest in Bondurant, Iowa after a 3-year-old boy was found unresponsive. Upon arrival, medics attempted to revive the child but were unsuccessful.

The victim was identified as 3-year-old Myles Holmes.

Myles’ mother, 42-year-old Tiffani Huff Holmes, initially told investigators she woke up and found him inside the garage.

Evidence later showed that account was not true.

Holmes had consumed alcohol before driving with three children that day.

After returning home, she forgot Myles inside the vehicle in the driveway while she continued drinking.

Temperatures exceeded 90 degrees that day.

Myles died from overheating.

Holmes was later charged with child endangerment resulting in death.

On July 21, 2026, she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, an aggravated misdemeanor.

During sentencing, prosecutors acknowledged that Holmes had taken steps toward sobriety but said she had undergone treatment at least three times before Myles’ death and continued drinking.

District Judge Samantha Gronewald also noted that Holmes continued consuming alcohol excessively after her son died.

Holmes told the court she had since completed inpatient and outpatient treatment, lived in a sober living home for a year and regularly attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

“I feel remorse, regret and pure hatred toward myself,” Holmes told the judge.

Myles’ father, Marcus Holmes, told the court he wanted Holmes to have a relationship with their other child if she could remain sober but also wanted accountability for his son’s death.

“I begged her to stop drinking numerous times,” he said. “Instead of stopping, she became better at hiding it.”

On August 28, 2026, Gronewald denied Holmes’ request for probation and sentenced her to the maximum sentence of two years in prison.

The judge cited Myles’ death and the “severe and lasting emotional harm” caused by the case.