US dad takes his own life after discovering dead son in hot car

Horrible details have surfaced after a dad discovered his son had died in the back of his hot car. Warning: Distressing content

Horrible details have surfaced after a dad discovered his dead son in the back of his car then drove home and took his own life. Picture: YouTube/WRIC ABC 8News

Warning: Distressing content

Horrible details have emerged after a dad took his life following the discovery of his dead toddler son in the back of his hot car.

The body of the 37-year-old man, whose identity has been withheld by police, was found in a bush near his home in Chesterfield, in the US state of Virginia, on Tuesday (local time).

Police earlier received reports the dad had been threatening to harm himself after finding the dead body of his son, who had been accidentally left in a hot car for up to three hours.

Officers found the body of the child inside the man’s home.

The dad’s body was found in the bush behind his home. Picture: YouTube/WRIC ABC 8News

It has been alleged he forgot to drop his son off at daycare before going to work for three hours.

The top temperature was 27 degrees on Tuesday, meaning it could have been close to 40 degrees or hotter in the car.

Chesterfield Police have yet to release identifying information about the dad or son.

“This is a horrible tragedy on so many levels,” Christopher Hensley from Chesterfield Police said.

The dad’s body was discovered in the bush behind his home at about midday after police received a tip about where he could be.

Police were initially alerted by the boy’s family when he was not delivered to the daycare facility.

Officers rushed to the house and found the dad where his family had suggested he’d be. Picture: YouTube/WRIC ABC 8News

They later told police they had been receiving suicidal statements from the distressed dad, with officers being immediately deployed to his home.

“Upon their arrival, they located the people in the driveway with an open door with an empty child seat in the vehicle,” Mr Hensley said.

“As they made entry into the residence, they found a deceased 18-month-old.”

The boy’s dad was located soon after in the spot his family speculated.

“Out hearts go out to the family and friends that are going to deal with this, but we would be remiss in not taking the opportunity for people to take this moment and realise how important it is to obviously check your vehicles,” Mr Hensley.