It's a story that's become all too common.

A Brownsville child was found dead inside a hot car Tuesday.

Only this time, the Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio said it was three-year-old Francisco Avila who walked-out of his Cameron Park home, and locked himself inside an unserviceable van.

Authorities believe the boy was trapped inside the van for about two hours before his 16-year-old sister found him.

Authorities are holding his mother, 33-year-old Elena Isabel Rodriguez, accountable.

''The child was gone for two hours,” Lucio said. “How can you have somebody who is three years old, to be gone for (two) hours without knowing where he is at? So that makes a big difference."

However, Rodriguez’s aunt, Leticia Lomas said, she is a loving mother to the little boy and her six other children, and is devastated over what Lomas said was an accident.

"Sometimes you just get so busy, and you get caught-up,” Lomas said. “This is something that could've happened to anyone. We should just learn to be as vigilant over our children as possible."

Lomas said she loved the boy as one of her own, and said she and the rest of the family are in great pain.

"He was a playful child, a beautiful child full of energy - he was my little angel - it's just an unexpected tragedy," Lomas said.

A mother of two herself, Lomas said it's a tough lesson learned, but hopes others will at least take away something positive from Avila’s death.

"We need to be vigilant of our kids and treat them like the treasure, pearl, diamond that they are,” Lomas said.

Child Protective Services took custody of Rodriguez’s six other children.

She was charged with manslaughter and her bond was set at $40,000.

The boy’s family is asking for help with funeral expenses.

Donations can go directly to Guerra’s Funeral Home in Brownsville located at 3955 Coffeeport Road.

To leave your comments on this story you can also visit Daisy Martinez’s Facebook Fan Page, click “Like” and post your comment.