MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Three people are facing criminal charges after a 6-year-old girl died after being left inside a daycare bus for hours outside a Memphis childcare facility.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office announced the indictments on Friday, Sept. 11, identifying the defendants as Tametria Norry, the bus driver; Sabrina Powe, assistant director of Kid University; and Amilya Hardin, an assistant at the daycare.
According to the D.A.’s office and local reports, all three were indicted on one count each of aggravated child neglect, criminally negligent homicide, and destruction of and tampering with governmental records.
The charges follow the death of 6-year-old Winter Jones, who was discovered inside a daycare vehicle outside Kid University on Aug. 13.
Girl Was Left on Bus for Hours
Memphis police and ambulance crews were called to Kid University after Winter was found inside the vehicle. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Winter’s father, Bryan Jones, said his daughter died with an “internal temperature” of 109 degrees.
The D.A.’s office said Winter had been dropped off at Kid University that morning. She was supposed to be transported to Macon Hall Elementary School, but instead remained inside the daycare vehicle after it returned to the facility.
She was not discovered until around 3 p.m. local time, according to the D.A.’s office.
Following Winter’s death, the Tennessee Department of Human Services conducted a fatality inspection of Kid University. Investigators found the daycare was “noncompliant with several transportation requirements.”
Among the findings were failures to complete required vehicle inspections after children were unloaded, inaccurate transportation logs and failures to conduct required walk-throughs to make sure every child had left the vehicle.
Winter’s Family Speaks Out
Winter’s family publicly addressed her death for the first time during a press conference on Thursday, Sept. 10. Her father described the loss as a nightmare and blamed what he called “absolute negligence” by daycare staff.
“This is an absolute nightmare,” Bryan said. “As a father, I won’t be able to walk her down the aisle. I won’t become a grandfather. I can’t watch Winter progress even though she was diagnosed with autism. Winter was progressing. All of that was taken away by absolute negligence, by people who were too busy doing nothing to where they couldn’t make sure Winter was taken care of properly.”
The family’s attorneys said the daycare employees were being investigated for multiple alleged violations of childcare protocol. They also indicated the family intends to pursue the matter through civil court.
Mother Recalls Devastating Phone Call
Winter’s mother, Nakia Cloman, recalled receiving the call from the daycare that changed her life. According to WMC, Cloman said a daycare representative told her that Winter had been left on the bus and was barely breathing.
“She said, ‘Winter was left on the bus,’ and she said, ‘She’s barely breathing,’ and I started screaming,” Cloman said. “As soon as I got to the hospital, she was no longer here. She was gone.”
Cloman said she does not want another child to suffer a similar fate before authorities and childcare providers take action.
“I don’t want another child to become a headline before people decide that something needs to change,” she said.
Kid University Permanently Closed
Kid University permanently closed following Winter’s death, with owner Dr. Raven Marshall-Lewis surrendering the facility’s license afterward.
Attorney Taurus Bailey read a statement from the family during the press conference, emphasizing their determination to continue seeking accountability while honoring Winter’s memory.
“Winter was 6 years old. She was autistic, and she was unable to communicate when she needed help,” Bailey said. “She was placed on the bus by these people, who promised to keep her safe, and that promise was broken.”
The criminal case now moves forward following the indictments, while the circumstances surrounding Winter’s death remain at the center of the family’s fight for answers.
What do you think should change to prevent tragedies like this from happening at daycare facilities? Share your thoughts in the comments.
