UPDATE:

Judge released John MacDonald Junek to his parent’s custody this afternoon pending the removal of guns from their home.

UPDATED Press Release from the U.S. Department of Justice at 12:41 p.m. September 4th:

A criminal complaint was filed today charging John MacDonald Junek, age 40, of Leonardtown, Maryland, with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of his infant son. An initial appearance is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Day, in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland.

The criminal complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Darrell Gilliard of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Washington Field Office.     

The criminal complaint alleges that at 3:25 p.m. on September 3, 2014, Junek’s infant son was found unresponsive, locked inside Junek’s vehicle which was parked at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, where Junek worked.  According to the criminal complaint, Junek dropped his four year old son at preschool that morning and was then supposed to drop his infant son at the Child Development Center on NAS Patuxent River.  Junek explained that he entered the base and drove directly to his office, leaving his son in his rear-facing car seat in his locked vehicle at approximately 8:50 a.m.

According to the criminal complaint, Junek’s wife called him at 3:20 p.m. to see if he had their son’s car seat with him.  Junek could not recall whether he had the car seat and realized that he may not have dropped the baby off at the CDC.  Junek went to his vehicle and discovered the iqnfant in his car seat unconscious.  Junek called emergency responders and attempted to perform CPR on the child until police and EMS arrived and took over.

According to the criminal complaint, Junek had driven his vehicle to a meeting at approximately 1:00 p.m.  He remained at the meeting until 2:00 p.m. and drove back to his office.  Junek advised law enforcement that he had been in a hurry to get to the meeting and had not noticed his son was still strapped to his car seat in rear of the vehicle.  The temperature reached 85 degrees on September 3, 2014.

Junek faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. He is currently detained.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the NCIS for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Kristi O’Malley and Michael Packard, who are prosecuting the case.

UPDATE on September 4th at 9:30 a.m.:

A Leonardtown man is in the custody of federal authorities after his 17-month-old son was found unresponsive in a vehicle parked at Patuxent Naval Air Station. Sources close to the story have identified the man in custody as John Junek.

The incident is being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

There are reports Junek will go before a federal judge this morning for a bond review.

The child was discovered Wednesday, September 3rd around 3:30 p.m. Personnel from the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad were dispatched to the base and performed CPR on the child before pronouncing him dead.

There is no information from NCIS on what charges will be filed against Junek. 

UPDATE on September 4th at 8:30 a.m.:

Sources have stated that the father of the male infant was taken into custody in relation to his death yesterday, September 3rd.

Details to follow as they are released.

UPDATED Press Release from Patuxent Naval Air Station Public Affairs on September 3rd at 5:43 p.m.:

At around 3:30 p.m. today, Sept. 3, a male infant was discovered unresponsive in the back of a vehicle…911 was called upon discovery and NAS Pax River fire and emergency services responded and immediately took over CPR.

The infant was pronounced deceased at 4:15 p.m. by EMS personnel. Fleet and Family Support Center counselors and the installation chaplain are on scene.

The incident is under investigation by NCIS.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

Original story by the BayNet Staff on September 3rd at 5:30 p.m.:

Authorities in St. Mary’s County have confirmed that a small child was found dead in a vehicle parked inside Patuxent Naval Air Station. The discovery was made sometime around 3:30 pm. A crew from the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad was dispatched to the scene and pronounced the child dead. Sources said a preliminary investigation has determined the child was likely left in the vehicle for most of the day.

Authorities at the naval base are handling the investigation.