Latest news with #Poppy'sPlayhouse
USA Today
23-05-2025
- USA Today
3-year-old died after day care worker applied weight on boy's chest, lawsuit says
3-year-old died after day care worker applied weight on boy's chest, lawsuit says 'He was the absolute sweetest and beautiful nonverbal autistic 3-year-old,' Lacey Hardy, the deceased boy's aunt, told a local TV station. Show Caption Hide Caption Guilty plea in Bronx daycare fentanyl poisoning The husband of the owner of a Bronx day care center where a 1-year-old boy died of fentanyl exposure has pleaded guilty to federal charges. Fox - 5 NY The mother of a deceased 3-year-old boy is suing a Missouri day care after the employees allegedly left her suffocated son lying on the ground of the facility "for hours," according to the wrongful death lawsuit. The petition for wrongful death, which USA TODAY obtained and reviewed, was filed May 19 in St. Francois County Circuit Court by Tara Williams, the mother of Conrad Ashcraft. Williams alleges negligence from Poppy's Playhouse, a day care in Park Hills, and its employees after Conrad suffered a fatal injury at the facility on May 16. Williams' lawsuit alleges the injury is a direct result of a day care employee applying weight and pressure to Conrad's chest "in an effort to force him to sleep." The mother accuses Poppy's Playhouse of not properly training its employees and failing to recognize that her son was suffocating or had suffocated. In addition to paying for Conrad's funeral or memorial, Williams is requesting other monetary damages and a judgment of over $25,000. 'Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones' St. Francois County Sheriff Jeffrey S. Crites said in a news release on May 23 that his office is continuing its investigation into Conrad's death, and that detectives are working to "uncover all relevant details surrounding the case to ensure justice is served." "During this extremely difficult time our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic event," Crites said. Family members who spoke with KMOV said Conrad was autistic and nonverbal. 'He was the absolute sweetest and beautiful nonverbal autistic 3-year-old,' Lacey Hardy, Conrad's aunt, told the St. Louis, Missouri-based TV station. 'He was a son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin to several people who loved him so very much.' Poppy's Playhouse owner previously worked for county prosecutor's office The St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said in a news release on May 23 that it previously employed the owner of Poppy's Playhouse. Due to this, the prosecutor's office decided to "take no role in the investigation" being conducted by the St. Francois County Sheriff's Office. Missouri Secretary of State business records show the day care is owned by Spring Gray, who resigned on May 20 after serving as Ward 2 City Councilwoman for the City of Park Hills. "Her decision follows recent developments involving her privately owned business," the city said in a Facebook post on May 21. "While the City is not involved in the investigation, we recognize the public concern and value transparency in this process. Her resignation helps ensure the investigation proceeds without conflict." St. Francois County officials said they worked with the Jefferson County Prosecutor Trisha Stefanski to appoint an independent special prosecuting attorney to prosecute the case. "Any involvement by the Prosecutor's Office would appear improper and could jeopardize the integrity of the investigation and pursuit of justice for this child and his family," the St. Francois County Prosecutor's Office said. USA TODAY contacted Spring Gray on May 23 but has not received a response.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Boy, 3, with Autism Lay Dead 'for Hours' at Daycare Owned by Former City Councilwoman, Mom Claims
A mother in Missouri is alleging that her son with autism died while at a daycare owned by a now former city councilwoman PEOPLE obtained a copy of the redacted lawsuit, which alleges Conrad Ashcraft "suffered a fatal injury" on May 16 while at Poppy's Playhouse 2 in Park Hills, Missouri In his obituary, Conrad is remembered as a boy who "loved swimming, Toy Story, Ms. Rachel, Cocomelon, and the movie Cars"A mother in Missouri is alleging that her son with autism died while at a daycare owned by a now former city councilwoman. According to a copy of the redacted lawsuit obtained by PEOPLE, Tara Williams claims that her son, who was later identified as Conrad Ashcraft, "suffered a fatal injury" on Friday, May 16, while at Poppy's Playhouse 2 in Park Hills, Mo. She claims that an employee of the daycare, who was not named, "through the use of lower extremities, applied weight and pressure" to his "chest and/or abdomen, while he was laying down, in order to subdue" him "in an effort to sleep." Williams claims that the defendant, Poppy's Playhouse, LLC, "failed to properly train and supervise its employees" and "knew and approved of the technique of using human extreminities and/or other devices to apply weight and pressure to a child's body in an effort to subdue a child into sleep." Because of this, Williams claims that the day care failed to recognize when her son "was suffocating or had suffocated" and, allegedly, therefore, "was killed and remained laying on the floor of Defendant's facility for hours without any effort to determine his wellbeing." While not mentioned in the suit, Lacey Hardie, Conrad's aunt, told KDSK that Conrad was nonverbal with autism, noting that his "words were limited" and he had "recently learned to say I love you." In his obituary, Conrad is remembered as a boy who "loved swimming, Toy Story, Ms. Rachel, Cocomelon, and the movie Cars." "He also loved pizza and enjoyed spending time with his parents and his family," the obituary reads. The city of Park Hills confirmed in a statement that the daycare is owned by a member of the Park Hills City Council, which led them to refer the matter to the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department. "This ensures the investigation is conducted independently and without influence," the statement said. "We understand the community's grief and concern. The city has full confidence in the independent investigation and believes that accountability is essential, regardless of the circumstances." According to court documents reviewed by PEOPLE, the daycare is owned by Spring Gray. Mayor Stacey Easter said in a statement on Tuesday, May 20, that Gray "submitted her formal letter of resignation from her position as Ward 2 City Council member." The city of Park Hills also confirmed her resignation in their own statement, expressing that "her decision follows recent developments involving her privately owned business." St. Francois County Sheriff Jeffrey Crites said in a press release that the sheriff's office "immediately launched an inquiry and continue to work diligently to uncover all relevant facts surrounding the incident." "Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this heartbreaking event," the press release said. It asked anyone with relevant information to come forward as the investigation remains active. PEOPLE has reached out to the sheriff's department for comment. On Wednesday, May 21, KDSK reported, citing the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, that Poppy's Playhouse 2's operating license has been suspended amid the sheriff department's death news station said the suspension was immediate, and the daycare had 10 days to appeal the decision. A Google listing for Poppy's Playhouse 2 shows the daycare as "temporarily closed." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. PEOPLE reached out to a number listed for Poppy's Playhouse 2 for comment, as well as the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Miami Herald
3-year-old was suffocated at day care and lay dead for hours, Missouri mom says
A 3-year-old boy died in a Missouri day care when a worker applied weight to his body to make him sleep, according to a lawsuit filed by the child's mother. The body of Conrad David Wade Ashcraft remained on the floor of Poppy's Playhouse in Park Hills 'for hours' Friday, May 16, legal representation for Tara Williams said in the wrongful death lawsuit. Lacey Hardie, Conrad's aunt, described the incident as 'a horrific, callous, negligent, and senseless act that never should have happened,' KMOV reported. Hardie said her nephew was a nonverbal boy who had autism, according to KSDK. No charges have been announced as of May 21. Poppy's Playhouse has not publicly commented on the fatal incident. McClatchy News attempted to reach out to the day care May 21, but calls were not answered. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Childhood is conducting an investigation, KMOV reported, as is the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department, which called the death a 'heartbreaking event.' 'We understand the community's grief and concern,' the City of Park Hills said in a statement. 'The city has full confidence in the independent investigation and believes that accountability is essential, regardless of the circumstances.' The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Park Hills Police Department, but the investigation was turned over to the sheriff's office because Poppy's Playhouse is owned by Park Hills Councilwoman Spring Gray. Gray resigned from her city council position, Park Hills Mayor Stacey Easter said May 20. The lawsuit did not name the worker who Williams has accused of killing her son. 'Defendant, through the use of lower extremities, applied weight and pressure to (the victim's) chest and/or abdomen, while he was laying down, in order to subdue (the victim) in an effort to force him to sleep,' according to the lawsuit filed against Poppy's Playhouse. Conrad was suffocated, Williams said in the lawsuit, which accuses Poppy's Playhouse of failure to 'properly train and supervise its employees to insure safe interaction between staff and children.' It was Williams who found her son's lifeless body when she came to pick up her son nearly four hours after his nap time began, Hardie told KSDK. Williams is seeking compensation for the 'suffering' and 'aggravating circumstances' of her son's death, the lawsuit states. According to an obituary, Conrad enjoyed swimming, spending time with his family, as well as the TV series 'Cocomelon' and movie franchises 'Toy Story' and 'Cars.' 'He was a beautiful child. He enjoyed being free and living his sweet little life,' Hardie told KTVI. Park Hills is about a 65-mile drive southwest from St. Louis.
