Police, his own brother, and an insurance company all offered a way to get the car open. He turned each one down.
What Happened
On October 5, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sidney Deal, 27, accidentally locked his keys and his 21-month-old daughter, Sayah, inside his car after an argument with his girlfriend. He had placed Sayah in her car seat but hadn't buckled her in.
An Hour of Refused Help
Rather than immediately seeking help to open the vehicle, Deal spent time arguing with his girlfriend over a separate matter before returning to the car. His girlfriend called his insurance company on his behalf, remaining on the phone for 23 minutes, but Deal declined to pay for the locksmith service they offered. When his brother, Samid, arrived and prepared to break the window himself, Deal stopped him, reportedly wanting to wait for a tow truck instead. When police eventually arrived, officers offered multiple times to break the window, call a tow truck, or contact a locksmith; Deal declined those offers as well, asking instead to borrow an officer's phone to call his brother again. By the time officers finally broke the window themselves, Sayah had been in the car for more than 40 minutes in Las Vegas heat, and she did not survive.
Prior Concerns
Records later showed Nevada's Department of Family Services had received multiple prior reports concerning the family in the two years before Sayah's death.
Charges
Sidney Deal was arrested and charged with child abuse or neglect resulting in substantial bodily harm.
FAQ
How long was Sayah Deal in the car?
Reports indicate she was in the locked vehicle for more than 40 minutes before officers broke the window.
Why didn't anyone break the window sooner?
Her father repeatedly declined offers from police, an insurance-arranged locksmith, and his own brother to break the window himself.
What charges did Sidney Deal face?
He was charged with child abuse or neglect resulting in substantial bodily harm.