Mom who got drunk while toddler died in hot car gets 2 years in prison

POLK COUNTY, Iowa (TCN) -- A 42-year-old woman was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of her 3-year-old son last year.

According to the Polk County Attorney’s Office, Tiffani Huff Holmes dialed 911 on June 28, 2025, after finding her 3-year-old son, Myles Holmes, in her garage. It was 90 degrees that day. Huff Holmes reportedly lied about where she had found her son, but evidence showed she drank alcohol before driving home with her three children. When she arrived back home, she kept drinking and forgot to take Myles Holmes out of the car. 

Huff Holmes fell asleep after drinking and said she went into the garage and found the child in a lawn chair, Law & Crime reports. His lips were blue and he was hot to the touch. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and investigators found a near-empty bottle of vodka in the home.

According to Law & Crime, the child’s father said Myles Holmes could not get into the garage on his own because the door had to be lifted to be opened. It was later determined that Huff Holmes had lied about where she found Myles Holmes and that he died from hyperthermia inside the car.

Huff Holmes surrendered to the Polk County Jail on Dec. 21, 2025, and was charged with child endangerment resulting in death, the Des Moines Register reports.  

In July, Huff Holmes pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Her defense request probation, but District Judge Samantha Gronewald handed down the maximum sentence of two years, according to the county attorney’s office.

In court, Huff Holmes said she had gone to inpatient and outpatient alcohol treatment programs and has been in a sober living facility for the last year. According to the county attorney’s office, she said, “I feel remorse, regret, and pure hatred toward myself.”

Marcus Holmes, the child’s father, said to the judge, “I begged her to stop drinking numerous times. … Instead of stopping, she became better at hiding it,” according to the county attorney’s office.

An online obituary describes Myles Holmes as “full of energy, laughter, and a spirit that touched everyone around him. … Though his time with us was far too short, Myles filled each day with joy, music, and love. He adored singing nursery rhymes, giggling at silly games, and snuggling with those he held dear. His sweet voice, infectious laughter, and curious nature made every moment brighter.”

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