A heartbroken father from Martha’s Vineyard has spoken out in anguish after his two-year-old son, Frankie Rodenbaugh, died from hypothermia following an alleged act of shocking neglect by the family’s longtime nanny. According to court documents and police investigations, the toddler was left strapped in his car seat inside a parked SUV for nearly three hours—without food, water, or protection from the elements—while the caregiver went about her personal routines inside her home.

Matt Rodenbaugh, the boy’s devastated father, described the horror captured on the nanny’s Nest security camera. “She tortured my child,” he told WBZ-TV, his voice heavy with grief. Frankie, whom he affectionately called his “mini-me” for his spirited personality, could be heard crying desperately for “Dada” over and over again on the enhanced audio of the video. The footage reportedly shows the cries continuing until they faded into silence as the child succumbed to the conditions outside the babysitter’s home in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, on March 13, 2025.

The nanny, 40-year-old Aimee Cotton, faces serious criminal charges. She was indicted in September 2025 on counts of manslaughter and reckless endangerment. Court records reveal that Cotton told police she spent approximately three hours inside her house cooking bacon, tending to her personal hygiene, and packing her son’s hockey bags—all while Frankie remained helpless and crying in the vehicle. It was only when she noticed the toddler had stopped breathing that she finally called 911 and contacted the boy’s parents.

Rodenbaugh and his wife, Julie, initially believed the incident was a tragic accident. That changed dramatically when state police reviewed the exterior security footage. “We reviewed the video of the camera on the outside of the house,” Rodenbaugh recounted to the outlet. “We saw that Aimee came home at 9 something, she exited the vehicle and went into her house. She didn’t come back to the vehicle until around 12:30 or 1. I said OK. They said she was the only one who exited the vehicle.”

The revelation shattered the family. Cotton had been a trusted caregiver for a decade, recommended highly and previously looking after the couple’s daughter until she turned three. “She was somebody really close to us and somebody we trusted,” Rodenbaugh said. “She played Russian roulette with my son’s life every day apparently and he didn’t win this one.” In raw emotion, the grieving father declared, “Aimee killed my son.”

This case highlights a profound betrayal of parental trust. For years, the Rodenbaughs had relied on Cotton without suspicion, a common reality for many working families who depend on nannies or babysitters. The security video not only provided critical evidence but also exposed how easily such negligence can go unnoticed without proper oversight.

Cotton has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains free on bail while awaiting trial. In response to the tragedy, Matt Rodenbaugh filed a civil lawsuit against her last month, seeking justice and accountability.

Beyond the courtroom, the father is using his platform to issue a stark warning to other parents. “I think trust but verify is a big one,” he emphasized. “Trust your caregivers but ask questions, pop in, stop by, see if they’d be ok with a camera. It’s not to spy on them, it’s to make sure your child’s safe. And listen to your kids.”

Child safety experts often echo this advice, noting that even long-term caregivers can falter under pressure or complacency. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of young children and the critical need for vigilance. Leaving any child unattended in a vehicle—even for brief periods—can lead to rapid and deadly consequences, especially involving extreme temperatures or dehydration. Frankie’s death, occurring days after he was found unresponsive, underscores how quickly such situations can escalate.

The Martha’s Vineyard community, known for its tight-knit families and serene setting, has been left reeling by the story. As the legal proceedings continue, the Rodenbaugh family’s loss has ignited broader conversations about childcare accountability, the role of home security technology in protecting children, and the importance of never assuming a caregiver’s reliability without ongoing checks.

In the end, Matt Rodenbaugh’s message is simple yet urgent: no amount of familiarity should replace active verification when it comes to the lives of our children.