Home / Crime and Justice / Daycare Worker Smothers Baby While on Phone
Daycare Worker Smothers Baby While on Phone
18 Mar
Summary
- A 16-month-old girl died from suffocation at a daycare.
- A worker allegedly laid on the child while using her phone.
- The daycare facility had its license revoked after the incident.
A 16-month-old girl, Madolyn 'Maddy' Amara-Serenity Mitchell, died on May 19, 2025, during her first day at Creative Beginnings daycare in Lenoir, North Carolina. Alexandra Coffey, a 29-year-old employee, is accused of smothering the child while attempting to force her to nap. According to a lawsuit filed by Maddy's parents, Coffey allegedly placed the toddler face down, covered her, and then lay on top of her upper body near her neck while using her phone.
The lawsuit claims that Coffey ignored the child's struggles for several minutes before she fell still. The daycare worker reportedly left the girl under a blanket and did not check on her for approximately three hours. When Coffey eventually discovered Maddy, rigor mortis had set in. Coffey then moved the child and called 911, but first responders were unable to revive her.
The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Maddy's death a homicide. Her parents have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Coffey, seeking at least $50,000 in damages and a jury trial. Coffey faces involuntary manslaughter charges and is being held on a $500,000 bond. Creative Beginnings had its license revoked by the state Health Department shortly after the incident, following a prior inspection that found not all teachers were CPR or first aid certified.
