Baby found dead in car parked at Saint-Jérôme daycare was forgotten by father

A baby boy found dead inside a parked car outside a daycare in Saint-Jérôme, Que., on Wednesday had been forgotten inside the vehicle by his father, sources have told CBC's French-language service Radio-Canada.

The father reportedly left his home with his three children, dropped the older two off at another location and forgot his infant, who was less than a year old, in the back of the vehicle.

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It was only at the end of the day that the father remembered his infant son was still in the car after he returned to the daycare on Des Prés Street to pick up the baby around 5:30 p.m., two police sources confirmed to Radio-Canada.

Quebec provincial police have met with the father, but said the cause of death isn't yet known and an autopsy will be conducted. Sûreté du Québec Sgt. Audrey-Anne Bilodeau said it's standard for provincial police to investigate whenever a young child dies.

SQ investigators were also expected to meet with the daycare's administration and educators today.

It will be up to Crown prosecutors to decide if criminal charges will be laid against the father.

Huguette Tremblay, director of the daycare, where the infant boy was registered, greeted parents and children as they arrived Thursday morning.

She told Radio-Canada that her priority is the 80 children who attend the daycare.

"It's always been the children and we will carry on," Tremblay said.

Parents told Radio-Canada they are in shock.

Dominique Charron said the daycare educators and administration will help the family of the baby boy.

"Madame Tremblay will make sure they get help," Charron said. "They are missing their little treasure."