Drug addict mom, 39, is sentenced to 20 years in prison for leaving her 13-month-old toddler to die in hot car for 8 HOURS while she dumpster-dived

An Alabama mother has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for leaving her 13-month-old infant alone in a hot, locked car for as long as eight hours. 

Elizabeth Anne Case, 39, was originally charged with capital murder in the 2019 death of her son, Casen, after she left the infant in a hot car while Case was 'dumpster-diving' in Limestone and Madison counties in Alabama.

Case later faced charges of reckless manslaughter and aggravated child abuse after the capital murder charges were dropped.

Case, who has a history of drug use, was out on bail for a robbery charge at the time of her son's death. She entered a guilty plea in March, as reported by AL.com. 

'I know I have an angel looking down on me now, and it's Carsen. I know that,' said Casen's grandmother, Theresa Moss, who discovered the infant in distress, called 911, and rushed him to a hospital in 2019.

Elizabeth Anne Case, 39, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for leaving her 13-month-old infant alone in a hot, locked car for as long as eight hours

Case(pictured with Casen in 2019) was originally charged with capital murder in the 2019 death of her son, Casen, after she left the infant in a hot car while Case was 'dumpster diving' in Limestone and Madison counties in Alabama

Casen Case was pronounced dead after being left in the car for eight hours

Case, then 26, brought her 13-month-old son with her while she searched through trash bins in Madison and Limestone counties one evening in October 2019, according to court documents. 

Investigators said that the baby was buckled into a front-facing car seat, but the seat was not strapped to the vehicle.  

Upon returning home around 5:40 am the next day, Case went to bed, leaving the toddler in the vehicle, according to Limestone County Sheriff's Office spokesman Stephen Young.

The baby's grandmother, Moss, arrived at the home for a visit and attempted to wake the mother by banging on the door around 1:30 pm.

It was then that Moss realized she couldn't locate her grandchild. She and Case searched for the baby and ultimately found him inside the vehicle. 

Instead of seeking medical attention, Case brought the child into the residence and placed him in the shower. 

The grandmother called 911 and drove Case and her son to meet local police at the Recreation Center at Highway 251 and Highway 31. 

Casen was transported to Athens-Limestone hospital where he was pronounced dead.  

Case, then 26, brought her 13-month-old son with her while she searched through trash bins in Madison and Limestone counties one evening in October 2019

Upon returning home around 5:40 am the next day, Case went to bed, leaving the toddler in the vehicle. Casen (pictured) was transported to Athens-Limestone hospital where he was pronounced dead

Case (pictured in 2019) was arrested immediately after her son's death and was charged with capital murder in January 2022. She pleaded not guilty to the charge a month later

Case was arrested immediately after her son's death and was charged with capital murder in January 2022. She pleaded not guilty to the charge a month later. 

In March 2021, the boy's aunt, Laura Barnett, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Case, the Alabama Department of Human Resources, and the director and program director of the Limestone County Department of Human Resources, according to Law&Crime. 

'I know he's in heaven. I know he's always going to be looking down. He didn't deserve it. He didn't deserve any of it,' Barnett said shortly after Casen died. 

'I don't think [Case] should be able to have a lesser charge than what she's charged with,' she added. 

'I think murder is a charge that needs to stick with her to the fullest. I think she should be prosecuted to the fullest.'