A grandmother from Central Florida has been sentenced to five years in prison following the death of her infant granddaughter in a hot car. This incident took place almost two and a half years ago while the child was under her care.

Tracey Nix was convicted of causing significant harm by leaving a child unattended in a vehicle after she forgot 7-month-old Uriel Schock in her SUV on November 1, 2022. This happened after returning from lunch with friends. A jury found her not guilty of aggravated manslaughter, a charge that could have led to a prison sentence of 12 to 30 years.

Previously a school principal, Nix entered her home around 2 p.m., engaged with her dog, and played the piano for an extended period before realizing she had left her granddaughter in the car, according to an arrest affidavit reported by Fox 13 Tampa. That day, temperatures in Hardee County were about 90 degrees.

Drew Schock, baby Uriel’s father, spoke about the extra steps he and Kaila Nix-Schock had taken to protect Uriel after Ezra’s death.

“There are some things you don’t think about and, as parents, we have to live with that for the rest of our lives,” Schock said. “She’s done this twice and the fact that we’re debating whether she deserves jail time is just insane to me,” Schock said moments later, per the outlet.

Nix, who had declined to testify in her own defense, said during sentencing that she did not realize the infant was in the car. 

“I literally forgot for a long period of time,” Nix said. “I’m broken about what happened. I don’t want to leave anyone with the thought that I’m making excuses, because I’m not.”

Nix, who worked as a principal and educator in Hardee County for nearly 40 years, was formerly described as “highly regarded,” and sought mental health treatment following her arrest. 

Kaila Nix-Schock hugs her mother, Tracey Nix, after a court hearing. (FOX 13 Tampa Bay)

The judge in the case handed down the maximum sentence and said that she had shown no remorse. 

“Uriel is not an isolated incident. I do not believe she is showing remorse; I believe she is showing sorrow,” Judge Brandon Rafool said. 

Nun Ney Nix, Tracey Nix’s husband, said that his wife had mourned in silence and that she rarely went outside. 

Last year there were 40 recorded hot car deaths in the U.S., according to data compiled by Kids and Car Safety, a group that compiles data on child hot car deaths and advocates for better car safety standards.

Fox News’ Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.