Police: Boy dies after father got drunk, left him in hot car

PHOENIX (AP) — A father wept at a court hearing after police say he left his toddler son in a hot car during a day of heavy drinking and the boy later died.

James Koryor, 41, was taken into custody on suspicion of manslaughter and child abuse Tuesday after detectives determined he went to a liquor store with his 2-year-old, bought a bottle of gin, drank it on the way home and fell asleep inside his house.

The toddler was left behind in the car, and detectives found signs the child had struggled to get out of the vehicle before dying.

Koryor made an initial court appearance Tuesday, where a judge set a $50,000 bond and assigned the case to the public defender's office. He didn't have a lawyer at the hearing.

A sobbing Koryor told the judge he didn't have money to post bond. He struggled to keep his composure, and at one point the judge offered him a box of tissues as he sobbed.

Prosecutors argued for higher bail, saying Koryor has extensive ties to Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana and could flee.

The judge also stressed that Koryor cannot consume any alcohol if he posts bond.