Three Tennessee childcare employees, including a bus driver, have been arrested after a six-year-old girl was allegedly left inside a sweltering school bus for hours, prosecutors said.
Winter Jones was discovered aboard the overheated bus outside Kid University in Cordova, a Memphis neighborhood, at about 3:20 p.m. on August 13, police said. WREG reported the incident.
Jones, who was non-verbal and autistic, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. She later died, her father, Bryan Jones, previously told the outlet.
Bryan Jones said his daughter normally traveled by bus between the daycare and Macon-Hall Elementary. On the day of her death, however, prosecutors said she was not removed from the vehicle after arriving at school and was still inside when the bus returned to Kid University.
Her body temperature reached 109F before her death, her father said. The temperature outside was 95F that day, while the heat index climbed to 103F, according to the National Weather Service.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday that three women—Tametria Norry, Sabrina Powe and Amilya Hardin—had been arrested in connection with the girl’s death.
Norry, 49, drove the bus, while 43-year-old Powe served as Kid University’s assistant director. Hardin worked as an assistant at the daycare, according to the report.
Each woman was indicted on charges of aggravated child neglect, criminally negligent homicide and destruction of or tampering with governmental records, prosecutors said.
Winter Jones, six, died on August 13 after she was left in a scorching school bus for hours
The little girl’s internal temperature was 109F at the time of her death, her father said. It was 95F degrees outside that day, with a heat index of 103F, according to the National Weather Service
Kid University permanently shut down and surrendered its license the day after the incident, the Tennessee Department of Health told the local news outlet.
The closure followed an inspection that identified five violations, including failures to meet state requirements governing transportation, the report said.
‘The driver and the reviewers admitted [they] did not conduct a walk-through to confirm all children were off the bus,’ an inspector documented, per the report.
Prosecutors further revealed that the daycare did not conduct ‘required vehicle inspection procedures’ that have to be completed after children exit the bus, according to Memphis Commercial Appeal.
A required transportation log was also ‘not accurately completed, and required walk-throughs to confirm all children were off the vehicle were not conducted,’ the district attorney’s office said, the report detailed.
On Thursday, Jones’ heartbroken family and their attorneys announced that the investigation was completed and that grand jury proceedings are currently underway.
Walter Bailey, one of their lawyers, said the family plans to pursue the case in civil court. He did not specify if or when a lawsuit might be filed.
Bryan called his daughter’s death ‘senseless’ and the result of ‘absolute negligence’ by the adults who were responsible for her.
On Friday, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office announced that three women – Tametria Norry (left), Sabrina Powe (right), and Amilya Hardin- have been arrested in connection with the fatal incident
Jones was non-verbal autistic, her father, Bryan Jones, said. They are pictured together
‘This is an absolute nightmare. 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,’ Bryan added at the press conference.
‘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.’
Jones’ mother, Nakia Cloman, also hit out at the daycare workers and bus driver.
‘I don’t want another child to become a headline before people decide that something needs to change,’ she said.
After the arrests were announced, Taurus Bailey, another attorney for the family, delivered an emotional statement.
‘Winter was six years old. She was autistic, and she was unable to communicate when she needed help. She was placed on the bus by these people, who promised to keep her safe, and that promise was broken,’ Taurus said, WREG reported.
The attorneys did not comment on whether the owner of the daycare, Raven Marshall, should be held responsible for Jones’ death as well.
‘We leave that to the process of the judicial system,’ Taurus stated.
Jones’ shattered parents have gone on to make several posts online in memory of their beloved daughter.
On the day of her death, Bryan shared a beautiful photo of him with Jones, stating: ‘Forever 6. I’m completely heartbroken. DADDY LOVES YOU WINTER SKYY JONES.’
Nakia shared an emotional post about her late daughter on September 5, detailing the pain she is experiencing.
‘I know I haven’t said much lately, but this s*** is HARD. This is a pain and a feeling that I have to learn to live with for the rest of my life. Some days I cry all day.
‘Some days I don’t even want to get out of bed. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time,’ she said alongside a touching selfie of her and Jones.
Jones’ mother, Nakia Cloman (pictured with her late daughter), also hit out at the daycare workers and bus driver. ‘I don’t want another child to become a headline before people decide that something needs to change,’ she said
A visitation was held on August 28 at Serenity Funeral Home in Memphis for Jones, according to her obituary. Her funeral was the next day, followed by her burial.
Norry and Powe’s bond was set at $100,000 on Saturday. A mugshot and bond information for Hardin have not been released.
Our News Outlet has contacted the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, the Memphis Police Department, Kid University, Walter Bailey, and Taurus Bailey for comment.
