Milton grandmother charged after toddler dies in hot car

A grandmother is facing criminal charges after a Milton toddler died in a hot car last week.

Halton police charged Leslie McDonald, 51, with criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessaries of life.

Maximus Huyskens, 2, was laid to rest on Wednesday.

Police have said the boy died after “being exposed to high-level temperatures for an extended period of time” in a sedan outside a Milton home.

He was in the care of his grandmother while his father was at work and his mother was at an appointment.

Max’s parents, who struggled to contain their emotions during the funeral, have said their son “shared his magic with everyone he met.”

“He was a boy who loved to talk about birds in the sky and whales in the water. He was a boy who would always pick a flower for his parents whenever he saw one,” they wrote in an obituary notice.

“He was also a boy who took the time to say hello to everyone he encountered because he knew how important it was to put a smile on somebody’s face. No words can give justice to how gracious, generous and benevolent Max was.”

McDonald will appear in court on Aug. 14.

If she is convicted of criminal negligence causing death, she could face a maximum of life in prison. Failing to provide the necessaries of life carries a maximum penalty of a jail term not exceeding five years.

With files from The Canadian Press

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