MADISONVILLE, La. (WKRC) — A 21-month-old girl died after being left in a car in sweltering heat, leading to the arrest of her father on charges of second-degree murder.

The incident occurred in Madisonville, a small town north of New Orleans, where temperatures soared to 92 degrees with a heat index of 104 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Joseph Boatman, 32, was taken into custody on Sunday and remains in the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center with bail set at $750,000. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that Boatman had picked up his daughter from a family member's home around 2:30 a.m. after consuming multiple alcoholic beverages. He placed her in a car seat and returned inside, leaving her in the vehicle for over nine hours.

A family member discovered the toddler unresponsive around noon and alerted authorities. Deputies pronounced the child dead at the scene.

"This is a devastating loss that no family ever wants to face," said Sheriff Randy Smith. "When a child is left in a vehicle, especially on a day when the heat index climbs over 100 degrees, the outcome can turn deadly in a matter of minutes. This case involved compromised judgment, and the result was heartbreaking."

The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed, according to the sheriff's office.