Jessica Raines and Thomas Wilkerson Sentenced to 70 Years After 2-Year-Old Son Kylan Wilkerson Dies in Hot Car Outside Arkansas Hospital

May 12, 2025

Little Rock, AR – In a heart-wrenching and deeply disturbing case that has shocked Arkansas and drawn national attention, two parents have been sentenced to 70 years in prison following the tragic death of their 2-year-old son, who was left in a hot car for hours while his sibling was being treated at a local hospital.

On Monday, a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge handed down the sentence to 27-year-old Jessica Raines and 29-year-old Thomas Wilkerson, both of Little Rock, after jurors found them guilty of second-degree murder, child endangerment, and criminal negligence in connection with the June 2023 death of their toddler, Kylan Wilkerson.

The toddler was found unresponsive in the backseat of the family’s vehicle parked outside Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Prosecutors say Kylan was left inside the car for more than six hours on a scorching summer day while his parents remained inside the hospital with his older brother, who was undergoing treatment for a chronic illness.

A Preventable Tragedy

Authorities were first called to the hospital parking garage around 3:45 p.m. on June 18, 2023, after a passerby noticed the child slumped over in a car seat. First responders attempted life-saving measures, but Kylan was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to court documents and medical examiner reports, the child died of hyperthermia — commonly referred to as heatstroke — with internal body temperatures estimated to have reached over 107°F. At the time of the incident, the outside temperature in Little Rock had reached 94°F, with the interior of the vehicle likely rising much higher in the hours the child was trapped inside.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that both parents had knowingly and recklessly left the child in the car despite multiple opportunities to bring him inside or alert hospital staff. Surveillance footage presented in court showed the couple entering the hospital at approximately 9:30 a.m. and not returning to their vehicle until well after 3:00 p.m.

“This was not an accident. This was a completely preventable and tragic failure of parental responsibility,” said Pulaski County Prosecutor Ashley Harrell during closing arguments. “This child suffered an unthinkable death because his parents made a choice — a deadly one — to leave him behind.”

Hospital Records Reveal Pattern of Neglect

Further investigation revealed a troubling history of child welfare concerns. Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) officials testified that Raines and Wilkerson had previously been investigated for suspected neglect in 2021 and 2022, involving both Kylan and his older sibling, who has complex medical needs.

While no previous charges had been filed, DHS records indicated multiple home visits, missed medical appointments, and warnings issued to the couple over their failure to follow safety recommendations. “There were clear signs that these children were in danger,” one DHS caseworker testified. “Unfortunately, the system didn’t intervene in time.”

During sentencing, Judge Rebecca Owens emphasized the seriousness of the case, calling it “one of the most heartbreaking and infuriating instances of child neglect this court has seen.”

“You left your child to die a slow and painful death while sitting just yards away in an air-conditioned hospital,” Judge Owens said. “There is no excuse — only a devastating outcome.”

Defense Argues Emotional Stress, But Jury Unmoved

The defense attorneys for Raines and Wilkerson attempted to portray the incident as a tragic oversight, citing the parents’ mental exhaustion and emotional turmoil related to their older son’s serious health problems.

“They were not monsters — they were overwhelmed, sleep-deprived, and desperate,” said defense attorney Carla Metcalf. “They made a terrible mistake, but they never intended harm.”

However, the jury remained unconvinced, taking just under four hours to deliberate before returning a unanimous guilty verdict on all counts.

Several jurors, speaking anonymously to the press, said that the parents’ actions — or lack thereof — throughout the day made it difficult to view the situation as anything other than criminally negligent. “It wasn’t one moment of forgetfulness,” one juror said. “It was hours of knowing that their child was alone in that car and doing nothing about it.”

Community in Mourning

The death of Kylan Wilkerson sparked widespread grief and outrage across Arkansas, with many community members attending vigils and calling for stronger protections for vulnerable children. In the aftermath of the incident, state lawmakers proposed a bill — dubbed “Kylan’s Law” — which would require hospitals to implement systems for alerting staff when children are left unattended in vehicles on hospital property.

“We can’t bring Kylan back, but we can work to ensure this never happens again,” said State Senator Maria Benton, who introduced the legislation in 2024. The bill passed the Arkansas legislature unanimously earlier this year and is scheduled to go into effect this summer.

A Lifetime Behind Bars

Under the sentencing guidelines, both Raines and Wilkerson will serve a minimum of 70 years in state prison, with no possibility of parole until at least 50 years have been served, due to the aggravating circumstances of the case and the young age of the victim.

At their sentencing hearing, neither parent showed visible emotion. Raines declined to speak. Wilkerson, in a brief and quiet statement, said only, “I wish I could take it back. I’m sorry.”

The surviving sibling, now 6 years old, remains in the custody of the state and is reportedly living with a foster family while receiving ongoing therapy.

As Arkansas continues to process the magnitude of this devastating case, many hope it serves as a wake-up call — not only about the dangers of hot car deaths but also about the need for earlier intervention in households where children are at risk.