Memphis, Tennessee — A 6-year-old girl was left inside a daycare van for nearly six hours and later died, after the driver allegedly admitted she failed to complete a required vehicle check because “she was hot,” authorities said.
Tametria Norry, the van driver, Sabrina Powe, the assistant director of the daycare facility, and Amilya Hardin, a daycare assistant, have each been indicted on aggravated child neglect, criminally negligent homicide, destruction of governmental records and tampering with governmental records in connection with the girl’s death.
All three defendants have pleaded not guilty, according to local reports. The girl, identified as Winter Jones, was found inside a van outside the daycare on Aug. 13 and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Girl Was Left Inside Van for Nearly Six Hours
According to the Tennessee Department of Human Services fatality investigation cited by local news outlets, Winter remained inside the daycare vehicle for nearly six hours before she was discovered.
Investigators found that the daycare failed to comply with several transportation requirements following the child’s death.
The Tennessee Department of Human Services reported that required vehicle inspection procedures were not completed after children were unloaded, while the transportation log was not accurately completed.
Inspectors also found that required walk-throughs to make sure every child had exited the vehicle were not conducted. Those procedures are intended to ensure that no child remains inside a vehicle after transportation is completed.
Driver Allegedly Explained Why She Did Not Check
The investigation reportedly included an interview with Norry, who allegedly acknowledged that she did not walk through the vehicle after the children were unloaded.
According to the fatality investigation report, Norry “said she did not walk the bus to check if any children were left because she was hot.”
That alleged admission became a central detail in the investigation into Winter’s death. Authorities also identified failures involving the daycare’s transportation records and required vehicle checks.
The three defendants now face criminal charges related to the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
Winter Had Autism and Was Non-Verbal
Winter had autism and was non-verbal, according to the reports. Her condition and inability to communicate verbally have added to the concerns surrounding how she could have remained inside the vehicle without being discovered.
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The Tennessee Department of Human Services’ fatality inspection found multiple transportation violations at Kid University following the death.
The agency said:
“Following Winter’s death, the Tennessee Department of Human Services conducted a fatality inspection at Kid University and found the daycare noncompliant with several transportation requirements,” the D.A.’s office said. “Among the findings, inspectors reported that required vehicle inspection procedures were not completed after children were unloaded, the transportation log was not accurately completed, and required walk-throughs to confirm all children were off the vehicle were not conducted.”
Father Calls Daughter’s Death an “Absolute Nightmare”
Winter’s father, Bryan, later spoke publicly about the devastating loss of his daughter. He described the situation as an unimaginable tragedy and said he would never get to experience important milestones in Winter’s life.
“This is an absolute nightmare,” he 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.”
His comments reflected the future he expected to share with his daughter and the milestones he said he would now never see.
Father Says Winter’s Internal Temperature Reached 109 Degrees
Bryan also said his daughter died with an “internal temperature” of 109 degrees. The reported temperature underscores the extreme heat conditions Winter allegedly endured while inside the vehicle.
The circumstances have raised serious questions about the daycare’s transportation procedures and whether required safeguards were followed that day.
The criminal case against Norry, Powe and Hardin remains ongoing. All three have pleaded not guilty, and the charges will now proceed through the Tennessee court system.
For Winter’s family, however, the legal proceedings come after an irreversible loss: a 6-year-old daughter who, her father said, was continuing to make progress despite being diagnosed with autism.
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