Gwinnett County mother accused in hot car death granted $5K bond

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A Gwinnett County judge granted a mother accused of killing her 1-year-old son by accidentally leaving him inside a hot car for hours a $5,000 bond on Wednesday morning.

Jailed since late July on charges of second-degree murder and child cruelty, 29-year-old Deja Coleman has been permitted only a brief release to grieve her son prior to his funeral.

Judge Tamela Adkins ruled that Coleman will need to wear an ankle monitor and can’t discuss the case with any potential witnesses. She will also be on house arrest, with permission to leave only for legal and medical appointments, and can’t drive her children.

One of Coleman’s new defense attorneys, Trinity Hundredmark, said she is thrilled that a bond was issued.

“Today’s the day to just get her out, get her back to the community that loves her and supports her, so that she can really process what’s happened,” Hundredmark said.

Watch the full bond hearing:

On July 29, Coleman allegedly left her son, Daniel, in a locked car outside her workplace, Northside Hospital Gwinnett in Lawrenceville.

According to Lawrenceville police, officers responded just before 4 p.m. after a passerby reported an unresponsive child inside a vehicle parked at the hospital. Officers arrived within minutes and broke a window to reach the child, but the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Coleman forgot her son was still in the back seat after dropping off her two older children at daycare before going to work. Investigators have said Coleman was devastated when she learned what had happened.

Coleman’s previous attorney, Tom Ford, said Coleman was living in a protective shelter after leaving what he described as an abusive relationship and was caring for her three children while sleep deprived. He argued that those circumstances contributed to the tragedy and should not result in criminal charges.

In court on Wednesday, Hundredmark said Coleman doesn’t have any criminal history and doesn’t pose any bond risks. She added that Coleman needs to be there for her other two children, who are 4 and 6 years old.

“This is a case that calls for support, not detention. She can do more for herself and for her children, and she doesn’t pose a risk to anyone if she’s released, rather than sitting in custody,” Hundredmark said.

But prosecutor Megan Matteucci argued against bond, saying Coleman poses a flight risk and could be a danger to her children. She also claimed Coleman is interfering with witnesses by not allowing police to do a forensic interview with her 4-year-old.

This is a developing story. Stay with Atlanta News First as we learn more.

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