A woman from North Carolina who left her kids to die in a hot car while she gambled at a casino in Raleigh has been sentenced to eight to ten years in prison.
Launice Shanique Battle, 31, filed a guilty plea this week in Wake County Court on charges of second-degree murder.
In August 2022, Battle left her two daughters, Amora Milbourne, 3, and Trinity Milbourne, 2, in her car for four hours while she gambled at Vegas Style Sweepstakes in Raleigh (pictured).
When she returned to the car, Battle found both children unresponsive. She then drove to Duke Raleigh Hospital, where they were declared dead. Physicians alerted the local police and Battle was arrested the next morning.
The Investigation
The police waited for an autopsy report from the county coroner to determine the cause of death before moving to arrest Battle.
The morning after they were presented to hospital, the coroner confirmed that the two children died of hyperthermia, aka overheating, caused by being left in the hot car.
“On 8/27/2022, Amora and her two-year-old sibling were reportedly left in a vehicle parked behind a gambling establishment from approximately 1430 hours to 2030 hours (6 hours),” the autopsy report said, as delivered by local news station WNCN.
“It was parked in a possibly partially shaded area. Documented weather for that time was hot, with a high temperature 95 degrees Fahrenheit, with skies varying from partly to mostly cloudy with some light rain. Her mother found them unresponsive and drove them to the Duke Raleigh Emergency Department.”
Police then looked into Battle’s history with Child Protective Services. Since 2019, the mother had been investigated over allegations of neglect on three occasions.
The Sentence
Battle was originally charged with two counts of murder. Under North Carolina state law, that could have seen her spend up to 80 years behind bars.
However, Battle agreed to take full responsibility for her criminal conduct and showed deep remorse throughout court proceedings. Under the plea deal, she agreed to admit her guilt in court.
In return, the prosecution dropped the charges to one count of second degree murder. On Thursday, Wake County Superior Court Judge Rebecca W. Holt sentenced Battle to eight to ten years in prison, depending on good behavior. Court records show she has already served slightly more than a year in county jail while awaiting sentencing.
Across the U.S., gamblers leaving their children in cars while they visit casinos is, unfortunately, a common occurrence, although not usually with such deadly consequences. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board saw so many incidents that in 2023 it started a public information campaign to ensure parents are aware of the physical and legal dangers of leaving children unattended in parked cars.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
