In a heartbreaking case that shocked the small community of Macclenny, Florida, 10-month-old Ariya (or Arya) Page died after being left in a hot vehicle for approximately five hours on July 19, 2023. The child’s longtime babysitter, Rhonda Jewell (also spelled Juel), 46, was convicted and sentenced for her role in the tragedy.

What Happened: Jewell picked up Ariya from her mother Brooke Paige’s home around 8 a.m. She then drove to another residence in south Macclenny to babysit other children but left the infant strapped in her car seat inside the SUV. Outside temperatures reached the high 90s, with interior vehicle temperatures soaring above 130°F (estimates reached 150°F+). Ariya was not taken inside the house.

Jewell reportedly told investigators she “forgot” the baby was in the car, assuming she was asleep and quiet. She even communicated with Ariya’s mother during the day without realizing the child remained in the vehicle. When Brooke arrived to pick up her daughter around 1 p.m., Jewell ran to the SUV in distress. The baby was unresponsive and later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Legal Outcome:

• Jewell was charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, third-degree murder, and child neglect.
• In November 2024, a jury convicted her of third-degree felony murder and leaving a child unattended causing great bodily harm (acquitted on aggravated manslaughter).
• On December 19, 2024, she was sentenced to 17 years in prison. She was later granted an appellate bond under specific conditions but remains held accountable.

Ariya’s family described her as a “daddy’s girl” and “mini-me” to her mother. Her death prompted renewed calls for hot car safety awareness. Family members, including her mother and grandmother, spoke emotionally in court about the unimaginable loss.

This case underscores the deadly risks of leaving children in vehicles, even with trusted caregivers, and the severe consequences of such lapses in attention.

Sources:

• Jacksonville Today, Action News Jax