LENOIR, N.C. — One person has been charged with manslaughter, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has suspended the license of a daycare in Lenoir after a 16-month-old child died there earlier this week.
Channel 9 reported when the child, identified as Maddy, was found unresponsive at Creative Beginnings of Lenoir Monday afternoon. First responders said Maddy didn’t wake up after a nap.
NCDHHS sent out a notice Wednesday afternoon saying it was suspending the daycare operator’s license “based on the agency’s findings that the public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action.”
The report says the Division of Child Development and Early Education got information about an incident at the daycare on May 20, the same day that Maddy died. The report doesn’t reference Maddy’s death, specifically.
The daycare was ordered to close at the end of the business day on Wednesday. The operator of the daycare, Kids Time of Lenoir LLC, can appeal the administrative action.
‘Justice for Maddy’
Channel 9 learned that one woman has been criminally charged in connection with the case. According to court records, 29-year-old Alexandra Lee Coffey is charged with involuntary manslaughter. She was booked into custody in Caldwell County.
The girl’s mother, Angel Blankenship, said she’s hoping other families can avoid tragedy.
“We are trying to get justice for Maddy,” Blankenship said. “We don’t want this to happen to any other children, and we’re going to work on, you know, continuing to fight and get answers.”
According to a search warrant, the 16-month-old was put down for a nap at 11:45 a.m. Monday and was found unresponsive at 2:30 p.m. Police say they removed a video recorder along with a blanket and mattress cover as part of the investigation.
However, the court documents don’t mention what led police to charge Coffey with involuntary manslaughter.
Channel 9 went to Coffey’s home on Thursday but no one came out.
We asked police about the cause of death and they told us they’re still waiting on the full autopsy report.
Officials said the daycare has been cooperating with the investigation. On Thursday, Channel 9 spotted several workers moving items out of the building.
A GoFundMe has been created to help Maddy’s mother and siblings.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
(VIDEO: 2-alarm fire destroys daycare under construction near Cabarrus-Mecklenburg County line)
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