Home / Disasters and Accidents / Child Dies in Memphis Daycare Van Overheating
Child Dies in Memphis Daycare Van Overheating
15 Sep
Summary
- A six-year-old autistic girl died after being left in a daycare van for hours.
- Three employees face felony charges including negligent homicide and child neglect.
- The daycare center, Kid University, has permanently closed following the incident.
Three staff members at a Memphis childcare center face felony charges in connection with the death of a six-year-old girl. Winter Jones, who was autistic and non-verbal, died on August 13 after being left in a Kid University van for at least six hours in extreme heat.
Temperatures reached the upper 90s with a heat index of 103 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of the incident. Investigators found that staff neglected required vehicle inspections, failed to perform van walk-throughs, and kept inaccurate transportation logs.
Driver Tametria Norry, Assistant Director Sabrina Powe, and daycare assistant Amilya Hardin are charged with aggravated child neglect, criminally negligent homicide, and destruction of governmental records. Bail was set at $100,000 for each.
Kid University has ceased operations and surrendered its license. State records indicate this is the second child fatality linked to facilities operated by owner Dr. Raven Marshall-Lewis, following a 2021 incident.
The family expressed devastation over Winter's death, citing absolute negligence. Their attorney indicated consideration of a civil lawsuit in addition to the criminal charges.
