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Palm Harbor Dad Charged After Toddler Left In Truck Dies

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The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has charged a Palm Harbor man with aggravated manslaughter after his 23-month-old son was left in his pickup truck for eight hours.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office says Troy Whitaker, 41, placed his son and 5-year-old daughter in the truck Friday morning and took the girl to school.

Detectives say Whitaker, who works for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, drove home without taking his son to day care and didn't realize the boy was still in the truck until about 4:30 p.m.

The toddler was pronounced dead at a hospital. Whitaker was released from Pinellas County jail late Friday on $50,000 bond. Jail records did not show whether Whitaker had an attorney.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesman Corey Dierdorff said Saturday that the agency would not comment.

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