DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – An Ormond Beach man was sentenced to 42 years in prison Thursday after pleading no contest to charges stemming from the 2025 death of his 18-month-old son, who was left inside a hot truck for approximately three hours.
Scott Gardner, 34, entered no contest pleas on July 23 to Second-Degree Murder, Aggravated Child Abuse and Neglect of a Child Causing Great Bodily Harm during a hearing in Volusia County Circuit Court.
According to prosecutors, Gardner left his son inside a parked truck on June 6, 2025, while he got a haircut and drank at a bar in Ormond Beach.
Medical personnel determined the child’s body temperature had reached approximately 111 degrees by the time he arrived at the hospital. Investigators said the child had been dead for at least an hour before arriving for medical treatment.
During the investigation, authorities said Gardner repeatedly provided false information to detectives about what occurred that day.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza said the case was a tragic example of a vulnerable child dying while in the care of the person responsible for protecting him.
“There is no cause for celebration in resolving this case,” Larizza said. “An 18-month-old child suffered greatly and died while in the custody and care of his father.”
Larizza said Gardner chose to drink alcohol and get a haircut instead of caring for his son, calling the child’s death the result of his father’s “selfish vanity.”
The case was investigated by the Ormond Beach Police Department and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant State Attorney Andrew Urbanak prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Florida. Circuit Judge Kathryn Weston accepted Gardner’s pleas and imposed the 42-year prison sentence.