Middletown Mother Indicted for Manslaughter, Negligent Homicide After Child Dies in Car

Zenaida Soriano-Rincon, 33, of Middletown, was arraigned January 21 in Orange County Court on an indictment charging Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Criminally Negligent Homicide after prosecutors say she left her two-year-old child in a vehicle for approximately eight hours, resulting in the child’s death.

Prosecutors allege that on September 19, 2025, Soriano-Rincon brought the child to work because she had no babysitter. The child remained in the car from about 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., with the windows up or only slightly open, on a day when the high temperature reached approximately 78 degrees. Court filings state the child was checked only one time during that interval. After her shift, Soriano-Rincon took the child to a doctor’s office, where the child was found to have no pulse. The child was transported to Garnett Medical Center and pronounced dead. At that time, the child’s body temperature was approximately 108.9 degrees, according to the indictment.

At arraignment, Soriano-Rincon was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail. A case conference is scheduled for February 2, 2026. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office said the case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jessica Dovico and Assistant District Attorney Christine Maggiore.

District Attorney David M. Hoovler thanked the New York State Police Child Abuse Unit and the City of Middletown Police Department for their roles in the investigation. “The blameless victim in this case suffered for the alleged reckless conduct of this defendant,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “The outcome in this case was as tragic as it was preventable. I am grateful for the efforts of law enforcement to carefully investigate this matter. We remain committed to seeking justice on behalf of the victim.”

The indictment and detention mark an escalation from investigation to criminal prosecution, but the charge remains an allegation. This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

For Orange County residents, the case underscores local challenges that can intersect with tragic outcomes: limited childcare options, workplace scheduling pressures, and the risks of leaving children unattended in vehicles, even on days without extreme outdoor temperatures. Local leaders and employers may face renewed pressure to review childcare supports and worker leave policies. The next visible court step will be the February 2 conference, where attorneys will set the path toward pretrial proceedings; meanwhile, community organizations and public safety officials are likely to refine outreach on child safety in vehicles and available family resources.