A Michigan father faces serious criminal charges after his 13-month-old son spent nearly two days trapped alone in an impounded vehicle. Orlander Murnell Linson Jr. was arrested and charged with child abuse after authorities discovered his toddler hanging by a seatbelt in a locked car that had been towed to an Eastpointe impound lot.
The 13-month-old child was found alive on February 28, 2026, after spending more than a day in the vehicle. According to testimony from Harper Woods Deputy Police Chief Ted Stager, the toddler was suffering from dehydration, hypothermia, and severe swelling and bruising to his left arm.
The case has raised questions about how a child could go unnoticed for so long. The vehicle was illegally parked and blocking a driveway in Harper Woods when police were called, and an officer saw a child’s seat in the car before it was towed, though the seat’s position reportedly made it difficult to see inside.
Details of the Incident
A 13-month-old boy spent nearly two days trapped in a locked vehicle after his father abandoned the car on a Michigan street, leading to its impoundment with the child still inside. The Harper Woods Police Department responded to an abandoned vehicle call on Friday, March 6, 2026, which set off a chain of events that ultimately saved the toddler’s life.
How the Car Was Illegally Parked and Towed
The vehicle was parked in the 20600 block of Damman Street in Harper Woods on the restricted side of the street. It was also blocking a resident’s driveway, prompting a complaint to local authorities.
Harper Woods police responded to the call about the abandoned car and arranged for its removal. A tow truck driver arrived and transported the locked vehicle to Woods Towing in Eastpointe. The doors were locked at the time, preventing the tow truck driver from searching the vehicle or conducting a standard inventory of its contents.
The car was taken to the Eastpointe tow lot where it remained overnight. Nobody at the scene had any indication that a child was inside the vehicle during the towing process.
Discovery of the Child at the Impound Lot
On Saturday morning, the child’s mother reported her 13-month-old son missing to the Detroit Police Department. A detective investigating the missing child case made a connection between the disappearance and a vehicle belonging to the child’s father, Orlander Murnell Linson Jr.
The detective determined that Harper Woods police had impounded a car registered to Linson the previous day. Suspecting the missing child might still be in the vehicle, Detroit Police and Harper Woods officers rushed to the Eastpointe tow lot.
The detective peered through the windows and spotted the crying toddler in the back seat. The boy was pinned between his car seat and the rear passenger door. Officers immediately entered the vehicle and rescued the child, who had been trapped for approximately 24 hours.
Timeline of Events From Parking to Rescue
Friday, March 6: The car was found illegally parked and blocking a driveway on Damman Street. Harper Woods Police arranged for the vehicle to be towed to Woods Towing.
Saturday morning, March 7: The mother reported her son missing to the Detroit Police Department. A detective connected the missing child report to the impounded vehicle.
Saturday afternoon: Officers arrived at the tow yard and found the 13-month-old boy alive inside the locked car. Medics transported the child to a local hospital.
Doctors determined the boy was in stable condition but kept him through the weekend for evaluation. Harper Woods Police Chief Jason Hammerle praised the detective’s work, noting that the vehicle wasn’t yet registered to Linson, making it difficult to track down.
Legal Consequences and Ongoing Case
Orlander Linson Jr. faces serious criminal charges including child abuse by leaving a child in a vehicle resulting in physical harm and second-degree child abuse. Prosecutors requested a high cash bond due to his outstanding warrants and lack of permanent residence.
Charges Against the Father
Authorities charged Orlander Linson Jr. with two counts related to the incident. The first charge involves child abuse by leaving a child in a vehicle resulting in physical harm. The second charge is second-degree child abuse.
These child abuse charges carry significant legal weight in Michigan. The physical harm charge specifically addresses the conditions the toddler endured while trapped in the impounded vehicle. The boy was found pinned between his car seat and the rear passenger door after spending nearly two days in the locked car.
The charges reflect the severity of leaving a 13-month-old alone in circumstances that led to the vehicle being towed and impounded. Prosecutors view the case as more than a momentary lapse in judgment given the extended time the child remained unattended.
Bond Conditions and Court Proceedings
During his initial court appearance, Deputy Chief Ted Stager argued for a substantial bond. He told the court that Linson has 10 active warrants for his arrest and no fixed residence. These factors made him a serious flight risk in the eyes of law enforcement.
The judge set bond at $100,000. This high cash bond aimed to ensure Linson would appear for future court dates given his history. Ted Stager expressed concern that if Linson posted bond, authorities would have no way to locate him.
Linson’s defense attorney requested a personal recognizance bond instead. He characterized the incident as “a bad split-second decision” and argued against the need for such a high financial barrier. The court sided with prosecutors and maintained the $100,000 bond amount.
Linson is scheduled to return to court on March 11, 2026.
Key Players and Law Enforcement Agencies
Harper Woods Police Chief Jason Hammerle provided key details about how the case unfolded. He praised the work of a Detroit Police detective who located the vehicle despite it not being registered to Linson at the time.
Jason Hammerle told media outlets that the detective did an outstanding job tracking down the car through the plate number and VIN. The Detroit Police detective responded immediately to the tow yard after connecting the missing child report to the impounded vehicle.
The detective peered into the windows and spotted the crying child in the rear seat. His quick actions in coordinating with Harper Woods police likely saved the boy’s life. Multiple agencies worked together including Harper Woods Police Department, Detroit Police Department, and Child Protective Services.
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