Latest news with #CreativeBeginnings
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Live: Funeral Tuesday for 16-month-old Maddy after tragic death at Lenoir daycare
LENOIR, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — On Tuesday, the community of Lenoir is gathering to say goodbye to 16-month-old Madolyn 'Maddy' Amara-Serenity Mitchell. Her funeral is being held on Tuesday afternoon, just over a week after the toddler's sudden and heartbreaking death on her very first day at Creative Beginnings daycare. The service, set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, at Waterlife Church, is expected to draw loved ones, neighbors, and members of a grieving community. Community comes together to raise money for family of toddler who died at Lenoir daycare Court documents and a 911 call released last week revealed the desperate efforts of daycare workers after finding Maddy unresponsive. CPR was attempted. Emergency services were called. But by 3:19 p.m. on May 19, Maddy was gone. Alexandra Lee Coffey, a 29-year-old employee at the daycare, is now facing felony involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the case. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has since ordered the immediate shutdown of Creative Beginnings. Past violations at the daycare point to unsafe sleep practices and inadequate staff training. Tuesday, though, will not be about investigations or court dates. It's about a little girl who was described 'as a ray of sunshine,' a child who loved Minnie Mouse, toy ducks, and her big brothers. Born on Christmas Day, family says Maddy was a gift. Tragedy on day one: Newly released 911 call sheds light on Lenoir toddler's death, daycare worker charged Born on Christmas Day in Hickory, North Carolina, Maddy was a precious gift to her devoted parents, Angel Blankenship and Jovon Mitchell. The joy she brought into their lives and the lives of those around her was immeasurable. The suddenness of Maddy's passing has left our family utterly heartbroken. We were not prepared to say goodbye to our sweet Maddy, and her brief presence among us has deepened the devastation of this loss. The absence of her bright spirit will be felt deeply. Madolyn 'Maddy' Amara-Serenity Mitchell Obituary As mourners gather at Blue Ridge Memorial Park for her burial, the family has made one request: that no staff from the daycare center attend the services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Lenoir daycare worker bonds out of jail as court docs reveal more about toddler's death
LENOIR, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A daycare worker charged in connection with the death of a 16-month-old girl in Lenoir is out of jail after posting a $500,000 bond, as newly released court documents offer more details about the heartbreaking incident. Alexandra Lee Coffey, 29, a former employee at Creative Beginnings of Lenoir, was released from the Caldwell County Detention Center after posting bond, officials confirmed with Queen City News on Thursday. She is facing a charge of felony involuntary manslaughter in the death of a toddler identified in court documents by her initials, M.A.M. PREVIOUS: Daycare shut down, employee arrested after toddler's death in Lenoir According to those documents, the toddler, a girl born in December 2023, was put down for a nap around 11:45 a.m. on Monday, May 19. She was found unresponsive at approximately 2:30 p.m., prompting daycare staff to begin CPR immediately. Emergency crews rushed the child to the hospital, but she was later pronounced dead by a Dr. Snyder at 3:19 p.m., court documents state. Investigators have since requested a search warrant to gather potential evidence related to the cause and manner of the toddler's death. Items listed in the warrant include a multi-colored blanket, a white mattress cover, and a Lorex DVR security camera believed to contain surveillance footage from inside the daycare. PREVIOUS: 16-month-old dies from cardiac arrest while at Lenoir preschool: Police The Creative Beginnings daycare was ordered to shut down on Wednesday by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. While the facility had passed its most recent inspection, records show previous violations related to safe sleep practices and incomplete staff training, concerns that have taken on new significance in light of the child's death. Records with NCDHHS show that on Aug. 20, 2024, during an unannounced visit, officials discovered several violations including, 'Bed, cribs, playpens, cots or mats were not placed at least 18″ apart or separated by partitions when in use. In space No. 7 and No. 13 sleeping mats were not separated at least 18″ apart or separated with/by partitions.' Coffey made her first court appearance on Thursday, May 22. The investigation remains ongoing, with police continuing to gather evidence and urging anyone with information to come forward. William Hamby lives next door. He said he saw her grow up and can't believe what happened. 'She's just a good girl and I'm very proud to call her my granddaughter,' Hamby said. 'She is not capable of anything like that and if I had children now, I would not be afraid to leave them with her.' 'We extend our continued condolences to the family of the child and all those impacted by this heartbreaking incident,' the Lenoir Police Department said earlier this week. Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Lenoir Police Department at 828-757-2100 or Crime Stoppers at 828-758-8300. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
