On a scorching summer day in New Hampshire, Officer Jason Short responded to what he believed was every parent’s worst nightmare – a baby left alone in a sweltering car. The call came from a Walmart parking lot where concerned shoppers reported seeing an infant trapped in a vehicle.
Rushing to the scene, Jason saw tiny feet poking out from beneath a blanket in the backseat. Without hesitation, he smashed the window with his baton, his heart pounding as he reached in to rescue what he feared might be an unconscious child. The pale, lifeless form felt disturbingly real in his arms as he began emergency CPR while waiting for paramedics.
Then came the shocking realization – the “baby” was actually an incredibly lifelike doll named Ainsley, valued at $2,000. The doll’s owner, Carolynne Seiffer, returned from shopping to find a crowd gathered around her damaged vehicle. Carolynne, who collects these realistic dolls as part of her grieving process after losing her son, was understandably upset by the commotion.
While embarrassed by the mix-up, Officer Short stands by his actions. “I’d do the exact same thing again,” he told local reporters. The police department later covered the $300 window repair. This unusual incident serves as an important reminder about both the dangers of leaving children in hot cars and the unexpected ways people cope with profound loss.