French Toddler Dies after Being Locked Inside Washing Machine

This is terrible! A French 3 year old little boy died after been locked inside a washing machine. This is just awful.  His father was arrested for the crime last Friday. According to the news story the little boy was being punished for flushing a classmate's drawing down the toilet. The mother is also being charged for not preventing a crime and not assisting a person in danger.  According to the toddler's 5 year old sister, this isn't the first time this has happened. My question is, how could his mother let this happen?  She is suppose to protect her little boy.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/french-toddler-dies-after-being-locked-inside-washing-machine-ncxdc-112811#ixzz1f3EvLi00