South Carolina Father, 26, Booked For Leaving Infant Daughter Inside A Burning Car
- A South Carolina man has been accused of leaving his infant daughter in a burning car.
- The man identified as Norman was fleeing his car following a long chase by police on Friday when his car burst into flames and his daughter who was inside the car died.
- Police said Norman was carrying illegal drugs with him due to which he didn't stop the vehicle in the blue light.
A South Carolina man has been accused of leaving his daughter inside a burning car to die during a wild police chase last Friday.
According to People, the chase occurred at around 10:20 p.m. on Friday while the officers attempted to perform a traffic stop on Highway 14 in Greenville.
But the chase ensued as a driver identified as Imhotep Osiris Norman allegedly refused to stop. Then the officer trailed behind Norman, 26, for quite some time before they captured him on the I-85.
Police reported that Norman allegedly threw a large bag out of the car window which was reportedly filled with illegal drugs. Furthermore, police told they noticed smoke coming from the undercarriage of the car before it burst into flames. Norman then fled the car on foot.
Meanwhile, the firefighters found a body of a small child in the back seat after they extinguished the fire. Authorities identified the child as Norman's 1-year-old daughter Xena Rah'Lah Norman. Coroner Rusty Clevenger released a statement saying:
The family has been notified and I ask that the community pray for the mother and family of this baby.
Norman is booked on homicide by child abuse at the Spartanburg County Detention Center. He is also charged with a failure to stop for a blue light, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, methamphetamine, and amphetamine.
Norman claimed in his first court hearing that he had no idea that the car was on fire when he jumped out. Fox Carolina reported Norman said:
I just know that car wasn't on fire when I got out the car.
He added,
I would have stayed in that car with my daughter. I would have never got out of the car while the car was on fire. I saw sparks coming from under the tires when I tried to stop and I couldn't stop it at that point.
Little Xena's family members were shocked to hear about her death. Her grandmother Linda Glenn told outlets:
I just can't believe she's gone so soon. That was my little angel. We know she's gone to heaven. That's the one thing we know is that little angel's gone to heaven.
Glenn also told the outlet how her daughter and Xena's mother, Thaisha Young was doing. She said Young was doing her best.
