Maine mother pleads guilty to manslaughter in hot car deaths

Kelly Sanders Brown, a 41-year-old mother, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated animal cruelty following the deaths of her 3-year-old daughter, Fiona, and the family's 13-year-old dog, Penelope.

The incident occurred in Milford, Maine, when the child and dog were found deceased inside a locked vehicle parked at a convenience store. Authorities determined that hyperthermia was the likely cause of death. Surveillance footage showed Brown leaving the vehicle and returning several hours later.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Brown faces between 20 and 25 years in prison for manslaughter, with a five-year sentence for aggravated animal cruelty to be served concurrently. The plea deal awaits final approval from a Penobscot County Superior Court judge.