Man Charged After Parents Trapped in Car

A man is accused of leaving his elderly parents trapped inside a hot car for hours, leading to the death of his father.

Police said Theodore Pressman, 48, parked his car outside a building in Peekskill on Monday afternoon and went to his job as a bus driver, leaving his parents in the car with no keys and the windows rolled up.

As temperatures climbed into the 80s outside, Joyce Pressman, 75, and Joseph Pressman, 85, of Beacon, wilted under the July sun, unable to open the power windows, which required a car key to operate. Police said unspecified mental and physical disabilities left the couple incapable of caring for themselves or calling for help.

Feeling ill, Mrs. Pressman managed to unlock and get out of the vehicle, but her husband remained inside and lost consciousness as the temperature inside the car rose. When the couple's son arrived about three hours later, Mrs. Pressman was sitting on a nearby bench, while Joseph was lying, unresponsive, in the car.

Theodore Pressman called 911 for help, but his father could not be revived.

Mrs. Pressman was treated for heat-related illnesses at the Hudson Valley Hospital Center and released. She is being evaluated by adult protective services.

Mr. Pressman is being held on bail at Westchester County jail and is charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor.

Police said the Westchester district attorney's office is exploring expanding its case against Mr. Pressman to include additional, more serious, charges.