A father accused of leaving a 9-month-old baby inside a hot truck for several hours in Rockledge has been charged with third-degree murder.The baby's father, Steve Lillie, discovered the child in the back of his locked truck in June, and police said the child had been locked in the truck for at least a couple of hours.According to authorities, Lillie told them he left for work and was going to take the baby to a caregiver, but something happened during his normal routine and he forgot that he had not already dropped the baby off."She's been in the car for hours. I absolutely forgot about her. She's not alive," Lillie told a 911 dispatcher.Also see: Storms rip roof off Casselberry mobile home"If the person does the act, they have to take responsibility for that act," said prosecutor Julia Lynch.While it's illegal to leave a child in a car, Florida does not have a law that addresses a child dying in that car. Lillie was charged at first with aggravated manslaughter, with a maximum 30-year prison sentence.But now prosecutors have decided that a new mix of charges better fits the facts: third-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving a child in a hot car.The new charges carry a lighter maximum sentence of 20 years."It's an unintended homicide. We realize that. We realize he didn't set out that day to harm or hurt his child," said Lynch.Lillie is out on bail while awaiting trial.Related: Florida mug shots

A father accused of leaving a 9-month-old baby inside a hot truck for several hours in Rockledge has been charged with third-degree murder.

The baby's father, Steve Lillie, discovered the child in the back of his locked truck in June, and police said the child had been locked in the truck for at least a couple of hours.

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According to authorities, Lillie told them he left for work and was going to take the baby to a caregiver, but something happened during his normal routine and he forgot that he had not already dropped the baby off.

"She's been in the car for hours. I absolutely forgot about her. She's not alive," Lillie told a 911 dispatcher.

Also see: Storms rip roof off Casselberry mobile home

"If the person does the act, they have to take responsibility for that act," said prosecutor Julia Lynch.

While it's illegal to leave a child in a car, Florida does not have a law that addresses a child dying in that car. Lillie was charged at first with aggravated manslaughter, with a maximum 30-year prison sentence.

But now prosecutors have decided that a new mix of charges better fits the facts: third-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving a child in a hot car.

The new charges carry a lighter maximum sentence of 20 years.

"It's an unintended homicide. We realize that. We realize he didn't set out that day to harm or hurt his child," said Lynch.

Lillie is out on bail while awaiting trial.

Related: Florida mug shots