New Horizons employee arrested, charged in death of disabled adult in back of van in August 2025
The family of Thomas Anderson, 26, hopes this story saves someone else the suffering likely endured by Thomas on a hot August day.
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A Dutchess County man is in jail, accused of causing the death of a disabled adult by leaving him in a hot car.
His arrest came five months after the man's death.
The family of Thomas Anderson, 26, hopes this story saves someone else the suffering likely endured by Thomas on a hot August day.
Thomas lived at New Horizons Resources' residence on Cream Street in Hyde Park.
He had severe intellectual disabilities and autism and required around-the-clock care.
He was also non-verbal.
Thomas depended entirely on the staff for his safety.
Dutchess County prosecutors said Thomas died because New Horizons van driver, 66-year-old Owen Ekpo, of Poughkeepsie, did not do basic required safety checks while transporting residents.
District Attorney Anthony Parisi said Thursday in a press release that on Aug. 4, 2025, Ekpo drove Thomas and other residents to their nearby day program, but Thomas never got out of the van, since Ekpo failed to escort him into the day program as required.
Parisi said Ekpo then drove back to the Cream Street residence, parked the van in an unshaded spot, locked it and left for the day.
Thomas still had not exited the van.
The temperature was 84 degrees.
Five hours later, other New Horizons employees found Thomas unresponsive in the back seat.
The medical examiner said Thomas died of heat exposure in the van.
Ekpo was indicted Wednesday on one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide, which carries a prison sentence of up to four years.
New Horizons executive director Samuel Laganaro declined an interview Thursday, but shared a note he sent to his staff that read, "We continue to cooperate with the authorities who are investigating this matter and thank them for their diligent efforts.
Thomas's mother said Thursday she was advised by her attorney not to comment for this story.
Ekpo is still being held at the Dutchess County Jail on bail of $75,000 cash, $150,000 bond.
He is due back in Dutchess County Court on March 4.
