Mother Arrested After Two Children Found Dead in Hot Car in West Bexar County; Authorities Cite “Inconsistencies” in Her Account

Mother Arrested After Two Children Found Dead in Hot Car in West Bexar County; Authorities Cite “Inconsistencies” in Her Account

SAN ANTONIO, TX — September 22, 2025

Tragedy struck west Bexar County on Saturday when two young children were found dead in what authorities describe as a hot car incident, leading to the arrest of their mother, Tiona Islar, on charges of injury to a child. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is investigating the heartbreaking circumstances, with several unanswered questions and community concerns growing in her wake.

The Incident

The children, Sevani Stevenson, age 6, and Miyani Islar, age 3, were discovered dead just before 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the 7600 block of Chancery Gate in the Alamo Ranch area.
Their mother, Tiona Islar, reported finding them in the vehicle. According to her account, she last saw the children alive around 10:00 a.m. inside their home, and later at about 3:00 p.m. found them in the car.
When deputies arrived, the children were inside the home, not the vehicle. Emergency medical efforts were made, but they were pronounced dead at the scene.

Charges and Investigation

Tiona Islar has been arrested on charges of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury or death, a second‑degree felony in Texas. Her bond has been set at $300,000.
Sheriff Javier Salazar has stated that there are “inconsistencies” in Islar’s story, though he has not yet publicly detailed all of them. Investigators are still working to determine exactly how and when the children came to be inside the car and for how long.
The Medical Examiner has not yet released the official cause of death. Temperatures in the area at the time of the incident were reportedly in the low 90s°F, though inside a vehicle temperatures can soar rapidly, making hot car incidents especially dangerous.

Background & Community Reaction

Sevani, the older child, is reported to have had autism, which adds complexity to the family dynamics and has been noted by investigators.Authorities have confirmed that there was prior involvement of Child Protective Services with the household. The full scope and nature of that involvement are not yet clear.
Neighbors and the community have been shaken by the event. Officials are requesting that anyone in the neighborhood with video surveillance footage from approximately 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. come forward to assist the investigation.

Legal Implications and What Happens Next

Injuring a child resulting in serious bodily injury or death is a serious felony under Texas law, carrying significant potential penalties if convicted.
Investigators will try to piece together timelines, weather/temperature data, witness accounts, surveillance, and any physical evidence inside the car or home to confirm what transpired. The inconsistencies in the mother’s statements will likely be central to prosecution’s case.

Human Cost

The heartbreaking loss of Sevani, only 6, and Miyani, 3, has left a grieving family and community. Sevani’s autism, in particular, makes the loss especially hard for those who knew him. Many in the community are deeply disturbed by how two young lives ended so tragically.
Sheriff Salazar has urged the public to hold the family in their thoughts and encouraged neighbors to assist the investigation so that clarity, and justice, may come.

What Is Still Unknown

Exactly how long the children were in the car, and under what conditions (e.g. windows closed/open, air flow, exposure to heat).
Whether there was a mechanical or vehicle‑related failure (e.g. windows stuck, doors locked).
Detailed timing of each event (when the mother last saw them, when she discovered them, how quickly EMS was called).
If there were any witnesses who saw the children get into the vehicle.
The full nature of prior CPS involvement, and whether there were earlier signs of risk.

In Conclusion

This tragic loss has shaken San Antonio and drawn serious questions about safety, childcare, and parental duty. With two young children dead and a mother arrested, the case is now in the hands of law enforcement and the courts. As the community mourns, there is also a strong desire for answers — about how this could happen, and how to prevent such tragedies in the future.