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Officials: Middletown woman faces manslaughter charges for leaving child inside vehicle for hours

Soriano-Rincon was arrested and arraigned Tuesday after a months-long investigation. She is also facing a charge of recklessly cause death.

Melanie Palmer

Nov 20, 2025, 10:05 PM

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A Middletown mother is accused of manslaughter following the death of her 2-year-old daughter.

Troopers with New York State Police say this investigation began on Sept. 19. That's when the unresponsive child was taken to a health care facility on Benton Avenue in Middletown, according to police. The child later died at a nearby hospital.

During the course of the investigation, troopers say it was determined the child had been left unattended in an unoccupied vehicle for more than eight hours while her mother, 33-year-old Zenaida Soriano-Rincon was at work. The location of the vehicle and the temperatures inside the unventilated car ultimately resulted in the child's death, according to NYSP.

Soriano-Rincon was arrested and arraigned Tuesday after a months-long investigation. She is also facing a charge of recklessly cause death.

People around Orange County tell News 12 they are shocked and devastated about the loss of this young girl.

"It's sad, it's really sad," says Middletown mom Angelina Pena.

Police haven't released where the incident initially happened.

An official source tells News 12 it's believed to have occurred in Wawayanda.


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