MiddletownJournal.com

CINCINNATI — Police have released the 911 call made by the mother of an 11-month-old girl who died inside a hot van Wednesday, according to Local 12 WKRC.

Police said Dr. Jodie Edwards left her daughter Jenna around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, as she arrived for work at Cincinnati Christian University in East Price Hill. Police said the baby died in a car seat while her mother was at work.

Edwards made the call to 911 after finding her child in the van. Police released that 911 call late this morning, Aug. 21, according to Local 12.

In a calm voice, according to Local 12, Edwards tells the dispatcher, "I just came inside to get help. I know she's already gone. I'll go out by the car, it's in the parking lot, Lot number 2."

The operator asks Edwards to stay on the phone. Edwards says, "I will. I'm just in complete shock and barely able to do stand."

Meanwhile, the investigation into the infant's death is not expected to be complete until next week, according to the Hamilton County prosecutor.

Prosecutor Joe Deters said this morning that there are "certain facts" which need to be clarified into the death of Jenna Edwards, according to Local 12 WKRC.

"I expect the Cincinnati Police Homicide Division will turn over their investigation sometimes next week," according to a statement from Deters. "There are certain facts which must be determined prior to making any charging decision."

Jodie K. Edwards, a professor in the counseling department at Cincinnati Christian University, called 911 at about 4:30 p.m. to report her daughter was dead in the car seat in the back of the Honda Odyssey, police Sgt. Joe Briede said.

The 11-month-old was believed to have been there since morning, police said. Temperatures rose steadily from 69 degrees in Cincinnati Wednesday morning to a high of 90 degrees at just before 4 p.m.

"This is an unspeakable tragedy, and no words can express our grief, sorrow and care for the Edwards family," said university President David Faust. "We are supporting them with our tears and prayer."

The death comes nearly a year after a 2-year-old girl died in nearby Clermont County under similar circumstances.

Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby, an assistant middle school principal, left her daughter strapped in a car seat inside a hot car for nearly eight hours as she worked on Aug. 23, 2007. Temperatures that day reached nearly 100 degrees. No charges were filed.