Day care owner apologizes to kin of boy who died in hot van

ORLANDO, Fla. — The owner of a Florida day care centre where a 3-year-old boy was found dead after being left in a van all day apologized to the child’s family hours before the state announced it was temporarily shutting the business down.

Audrey Thornton said Wednesday at a news conference at her attorney’s office that she was extremely sorry about the death of Myles Hill. Later that day, the Florida Department of Children and Families issued an emergency suspension order for Little Miracles Academy.

“Our hearts are broken about the senseless loss of Myles and we will continue to support his family,” DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said in a prepared statement. “We are conducting a thorough investigation and are assisting law enforcement with their criminal investigation.”

More than 100 people gathered to remember Myles at a candlelight vigil Tuesday night. Relatives told local news outlets that the boy would have turned 4 on Aug. 22. Instead, he was found dead Monday night, and police say he had been inside the van for nearly 12 hours.