Victim's mother, former daycare employees testifies in Payton Gann trial
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The trial of Payton Gann of Red Bay officially started on Tuesday in Franklin County.
Gann is one of three women charged in the death of four-month-old Autumn Wells at Tiny Tigers Dycare Center in Red Bay in March of 2022.
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On Wednesday, the state called Taylor Wells, Autumn's mother, to the stand to testify. Wells told the jury that March 9, 2022, started out like any other day, she got up for work, got Autumn ready for daycare, and then they were out the door. Wells told the jury that she dropped Autumn off, kissed her goodbye and just hours later, she would have received a call that no parent wants to get.
Wells got a call from the daycare saying that her daughter Autumn was not breathing and that she needed to get to the Emergency Room immediately.
Gann and Angelene Chamblee, owner of Tiny Tigers, spoke with police at the emergency room that day.
Gann initially told police the baby died after being in a swing for about 15 minutes with a blanket draped over her.
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It wasn't until the next day, another daycare employee, Madison McCalpin, came forward and told police that the infant was laid face down on a pillow for more than an hour and then was found dead.
McCalpin testified on Wednesday and told the court that she came forward because she felt that it was the right thing to do and that Taylor, Autumn's mother, deserved to know what really happened.
Gann pleaded guilty to false reporting, but she still faces a manslaughter charge. Gann is the first person to go on trial for the death of Autumn Wells.
McCalpin also testified that she was only 17 years old at the time and was a teacher's aide for the baby room at Tiny Tigers Daycare Center. McCalpin also told the jury that she had no training as to what to do or how to handle babies.
McCalpin was asked to demonstrate the way Gann placed Autumn for nap time. McCalpin took the actual Boppy pillow and a baby doll and showed the jury how Gann put Autumn down that day.
McCalpin testified that at no point in time did Gann check on Autumn or any of the babies during nap time. McCalpin also said that they turned the lights on when nap time was over to wake the babies up, and that's when she and Gann noticed that Autumn was unresponsive.
McCalpin described that Autumn looked pale, and she was cold to the touch.
Lastly, McCalpin made it clear on Wednesday that Gann ran out of the baby room with Autumn yelling for help, but also saying over and over that they had to say Autumn was in a swing, and that's when they found her.
McCalpin was also charged in this case, but the charge was resolved through a deal with the court.
Several more former employees were brought to the stand to testify. All three women told the jury that they had worked at Tiny Tigers and noticed that there was never any proper training and that Gann should have had common sense when it came to general baby responsibilities.
The trial will continue on Thursday at 9:00 AM.
News 19 crews will be in the courtroom to bring you the latest on this case.
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