A North Carolina father was charged in the death of his two-year-old son after he allegedly left the toddler in a room with a space heater on for more than 12 hours.
On December 2, 2023, deputies with the Moore County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call and found River Carter dead inside a home in West End, a small town between Fayetteville and Charlotte.
Following a review of the findings from the state’s medical examiner, the sheriff’s office announced they had arrested River’s father, Aaron Lynwood Carter, on Tuesday more than a year after the boy’s death.
‘Investigators determined that River had been isolated in a room for more than twelve hours and had been exposed to elevated temperatures from a space heater prior to his death being reported,’ a statement from the sheriff’s office said.
Carter, 27, has been charged with one count of felony involuntary manslaughter and one count of felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury in connection with his son’s death.
He is in being held at the Moore County Detention Center under $500,000 bond. Carter is set to appear in court on Thursday.
River’s obituary said the boy, born on July 16, 2021, leaves behind his sister and parents.
‘River loved life and all people. He enjoyed making people smile and giving hugs,’ the obituary read.
‘River loved anything outside and active, animals, trucks, cars, his family, music and dancing. He had so much character for a 2-year-old. Truly the most genuine and kind soul.’
Aaron Lynwood Carter, 27, was charged Tuesday in connection with the death of his son last year
River Lynwood Carter died at two years old in December 2023. Police say he was left in a room with a space heater on for 12 hours
The delay in charging Carter came as a result of police waiting for the autopsy results from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which investigates all deaths in the state.
Major Eric Galloway with the Moore County Sheriff’s Office told DailyMail.com that deputies met with the medical examiner and received the autopsy on Tuesday. Carter was arrested and charged the same day.
‘As soon as we got confirmation of the cause of death, we arrested him,’ Galloway said.
When asked if Carter could have been arrested earlier based on the evidence at the scene, Galloway said deputies erred on the side of caution.
Galloway declined to comment on why the medical examiner took over a year to complete the autopsy.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issued a report in August 2024 titled, ‘Strategic Plan for Improving the Medical Examiner System.’
The report explained that there is a nationwide shortage of forensic pathologists, professionals who investigated deaths that are sudden, unexpected or suspected to be homicide.
The state medical examiner’s office added a team of temporary staff last year that makes up roughly 45 percent of the office’s entire workforce.
The report recommended that the state establish two new autopsy centers, hire more forensic pathology and toxicology permanent staff, and invest in additional technology.
