A technique the lawsuit claims led to a fatal injury.
The suit further asserts that staff failed to recognize when the boy was in distress or had already suffocated.
“He was nonverbal, so he couldn’t say, ‘Oh, this hurts,’ or ‘I can’t breathe,’” said Hardie. “He had recently learned to say, ‘I love you.’ His words were limited.”
Investigation Underway
The St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and Missouri’s child services are conducting a full investigation into the toddler’s death.
The city of Park Hills has formally recused itself from the case due to a conflict of interest: the daycare is owned by Spring Gray, a now-former city councilwoman.
In a public statement, the city affirmed that the case had been referred to the sheriff’s office to ensure an independent investigation free of influence.
