Mother Charged in Baby’s Hot-Car Death Wins Judge’s Permission to Take Her Other Children Trick-or-Treating

A Georgia mother facing murder charges over the death of her 16-month-old son has been granted permission to take her two surviving children trick-or-treating on Halloween — but only within the residential complex where she is under house arrest.

Deja Coleman, 29, appeared before a Gwinnett County judge on October 29 to request a change to her bond conditions. The judge approved the request, allowing her to participate in the Halloween activity with her children at Rainbow Village, a transitional housing community where the family is staying.

Coleman remains under GPS monitoring and is not permitted to leave the complex. The judge also approved a request allowing her to work at the community’s front desk to help cover the cost of her accommodation.

The ruling comes months after the death of her youngest child, Daniel, who was found unresponsive inside her parked vehicle outside the hospital where she worked.

According to Lawrenceville police, Coleman dropped her two older children off at daycare on July 29 but allegedly failed to bring Daniel inside during the second trip from the car. She then drove to Northside Gwinnett Hospital and began her shift at around 6:55 a.m., with the toddler still strapped into his car seat.

At approximately 3:50 p.m., a hospital employee noticed the child in the vehicle and called for help. Off-duty officers broke a window to reach him, but Daniel was already dead. Investigators said the temperature inside the car was still 117 degrees about an hour after he was discovered.

Coleman has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children. She has pleaded not guilty, and the allegations have not been proven in court.

During the bond hearing, her attorney argued that allowing her to take part in the Halloween event would support family stability and give her the opportunity to continue parenting her surviving children, ages four and six.

Prosecutors opposed the request, arguing that Coleman posed a danger to children and the community. They emphasized that the charges stem from alleged severe negligence resulting in a child’s death, rather than an accusation that she intentionally killed her son.

The judge ultimately granted permission for the limited Halloween outing, while keeping the restrictions on Coleman’s movements in place.

The case has drawn attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the ruling. Coleman will be able to spend Halloween with her surviving children while awaiting the next stages of a criminal case that remains unresolved.