Mom of infant who died in hot car wants charges dropped

The mother of a Grenada child who died after being left in a hot car by her father has asked that all charges be dropped.

Shanice Caradine, mother of 8-month-old Shania Caradine, signed an affidavit Tuesday asking the court to drop all charges against Joshua Blunt. In the affidavit, Shanice Caradine called the incident a "tragic accident."

Blunt, 25, is charged with manslaughter after he left the infant in a car while he went to work.

Blount's attorney Carlos Moore said he hopes Grenada County District Attorney Doug Evans will drop the charges. Moore said it was his understanding that Evans was pursuing the manslaughter charge at the mother's request.

"We have it in writing that the mother of the child doesn't want this," Moore said. "The million dollar question is who is pushing the issue and why?"

Evans said despite Caradine's affidavit, his office is still pursuing the manslaughter charge against Blunt, citing the fact that he was indicted by a grand jury.

Moore has previously accused Evans, who is white, of pursuing the manslaughter charge because Blunt is black, calling the charge an example of "blatant racism."

Less than two weeks before Shania's death, 2-year-old Caroline Bryant died after she was left in a hot car in Madison County by her mother, who is white. Charges have not been filed related to the toddler's death in the Madison case.

Evans said he took the case to the grand jury "because of the facts of the case." He declined to elaborate further, citing a pending trial.

"Do black lives matter all of a sudden when a black father leaves a baby in the car?" Moore said. "We do know that if the baby had been running from a cop and been killed, no one would have done jail time there?"

Blunt's court date is scheduled for Aug 18, but presiding Judge George Mitchell said an order to continue will be entered by Friday. Mitchell cited a scheduling conflict as a reason for the continuance.

Contact Sarah Fowler at sfowler@gannett.com or 601-961-7303. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.