Boy pronounced dead at the scene.

UPDATED 1:13 PM TUESDAY 7/22 

Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation into the death of a toddler boy found in his mother’s minivan Monday afternoon.

“There is no indication of foul play at this juncture,” said Lt. Dave Doulson. “But we won’t make any move on arrests until the coroner has completed its investigation.”

The mother of 23-month old Jack Roscoe Winchester was running errands with her three children, returning home in the early afternoon.

Doulson said that the mother told him she had been grocery shopping and was putting things away in the house, assuming the other children were taking care of the young boy.

“It appears she contributed to the child’s death,” Doulson said. “According to her statement, the child was strapped in the car seat for several hours before she discovered him missing.”

A 911 call at 5:10 p.m. brought both sheriffs and paramedics to the High Point Place home, where the child was declared dead.

Homicide detectives were interviewing the other children, ages 4 and 6, today, Doulson said. Coroner Captain Ed Winter said that an autopsy will be conducted on the boy Wednesday morning. The completed investigation could take several weeks.

According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, 20 infants and children have died this year after being left in hot vehicles. In 2007, those conditions claimed the lives of 35 children; in 2006, there were 42 fatalities.

Studies indicate that these incidents can occur on days with mild temperatures; according to the National Weather Service, the temperature in Santa Clarita was 95 degrees on Monday.

Heatstroke occurs when body temperature exceeds 104 degrees and regulatory systems overload. Due to their immature regulatory systems, children’s bodies warm three to five times faster than adults.

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