3-year-old was suffocated at day care and lay dead for hours, Missouri mom says
A 3-year-old boy died in a Missouri day care when a worker applied weight to his body to make him sleep, according to a lawsuit filed by the child's mother.
The body of Conrad David Wade Ashcraft remained on the floor of Poppy's Playhouse in Park Hills 'for hours' Friday, May 16, legal representation for Tara Williams said in the wrongful death lawsuit.
Lacey Hardie, Conrad's aunt, described the incident as 'a horrific, callous, negligent, and senseless act that never should have happened,' KMOV reported.
Hardie said her nephew was a nonverbal boy who had autism, according to KSDK.
No charges have been announced as of May 21.
Poppy's Playhouse has not publicly commented on the fatal incident. McClatchy News attempted to reach out to the day care May 21, but calls were not answered.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Childhood is conducting an investigation, KMOV reported, as is the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department, which called the death a 'heartbreaking event.'
'We understand the community's grief and concern,' the City of Park Hills said in a statement. 'The city has full confidence in the independent investigation and believes that accountability is essential, regardless of the circumstances.'
The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Park Hills Police Department, but the investigation was turned over to the sheriff's office because Poppy's Playhouse is owned by Park Hills Councilwoman Spring Gray.
Gray resigned from her city council position, Park Hills Mayor Stacey Easter said May 20.
The lawsuit did not name the worker who Williams has accused of killing her son.
'Defendant, through the use of lower extremities, applied weight and pressure to (the victim's) chest and/or abdomen, while he was laying down, in order to subdue (the victim) in an effort to force him to sleep,' according to the lawsuit filed against Poppy's Playhouse.
Conrad was suffocated, Williams said in the lawsuit, which accuses Poppy's Playhouse of failure to 'properly train and supervise its employees to insure safe interaction between staff and children.'
It was Williams who found her son's lifeless body when she came to pick up her son nearly four hours after his nap time began, Hardie told KSDK.
Williams is seeking compensation for the 'suffering' and 'aggravating circumstances' of her son's death, the lawsuit states.
According to an obituary, Conrad enjoyed swimming, spending time with his family, as well as the TV series 'Cocomelon' and movie franchises 'Toy Story' and 'Cars.'
'He was a beautiful child. He enjoyed being free and living his sweet little life,' Hardie told KTVI.
Park Hills is about a 65-mile drive southwest from St. Louis.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
Kindergarten ‘Teacher of the Year' accused of sending child porn, MO cops say
A woman who in 2024 was named Teacher of the Year at her Missouri school is accused of sending child porn on social media, authorities say. Erika Morton, a kindergarten teacher in St. Francois County, is charged with five counts of promoting child pornography and five counts of child pornography possession, according to a probable cause statement. Using the social media platform Kik, Morton sent the videos in January and February during a 'sexually charged' conversation with another user, Missouri State Highway Patrol said. She acknowledged the victims in the videos are under the age of 18, troopers said. Morton admitted to sending the content during an interview with troopers, saying she sent them using her phone at her home in Ste. Genevieve, according to the charging documents. 'The suspect is employed as a kindergarten teacher at a public school in St. Francois County and has expressed a sexual interest in children,' authorities said. Farmington R-7 School District did not name the teacher but said in a statement to KSDK that a Truman Learning Center staff member 'is no longer employed' by the district after it learned of the allegations. The district does not believe the 'alleged incidents took place on school grounds or involved any Farmington R-7 students.' As first reported by KSDK, Morton was recognized during a December school board meeting as the school's Teacher of the Year. She taught in the district for 10 years. Records show Morton was jailed on a $1 million bond. Truman Learning Center is in Farmington, about a 70-mile drive south from St. Louis.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Miami Herald
Florida attorney general, now held in contempt, should stop politicizing the job
'Fidelity to the rule of law can have no other meaning.' That's what U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams wrote Tuesday when she found Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in contempt of court for continuing to enforce an immigration law she blocked. Uthmeier was appointed to the job in February by Gov. Ron DeSantis. He swore an oath to uphold the law. But Uthmeier has chosen to put politics above the law. In April, Uthmeier issued a memo directing police agencies to ignore Williams' injunction blocking enforcement of Florida's new immigration law making it a crime for undocumented immigrants to enter the state. 'It is my view that no lawful, legitimate order currently impedes your agencies from continuing to enforce Florida's new illegal entry and reentry laws,' he wrote. The law, passed by the Republican Legislature, was signed by DeSantis earlier this year. A Tampa Bay Times analysis found that 25 people were arrested under the law — after the judge blocked enforcement. At least nine ended up in detention. 'Litigants cannot change the plain meaning of words as it suits them, especially when conveying a court's clear and unambiguous order,' Williams said in her contempt order. Williams could have fined Uthmeier or imposed a jail sentence, the Miami Herald reported. Instead, she ordered Uthmeier to 'file bi-weekly reports detailing whether any arrests, detentions, or law enforcement actions' have been made under the law. The first report is due July 1. It's unclear if Uthmeier will follow the judge's orders. But one thing is clear: Uthmeier has politicized the role of attorney general like no other in recent history. He shows no sign of stopping. Shortly after Williams' order, Uthmeier commented on X: 'If being held in contempt is what it costs to defend the rule of law and stand firmly behind President Trump's agenda on illegal immigration, so be it.' That leads to a question for voters: How will the state attorney general defend the rule of law while ignoring the ruling of a federal judge? This is the same man who, hours before being found in contempt, retweeted a video of U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, criticizing President Donald Trump's military parade last Saturday and encouraging people to protest. He offered this comment: 'Denaturalize and Deport.' Omar is a favorite target for many Republicans but is the Florida attorney general saying he favors deporting a naturalized U.S. citizen and a sitting member of Congress based on her dissenting words? Uthemier seems more interested in scoring ideological points than serving Floridians and upholding the law. While carrying out DeSantis' agenda, he also appears to be auditioning for Trump's endorsement. Uthmeier is up for election in 2026. Floridians should take note. Uthmeier was appointed to the role of attorney general, and he is now campaigning to serve a full term. His current, shoot-from-the-hip conduct is an indication of what they can expect if he wins. Floridians need an attorney general who will uphold the law. There's an appropriate place to fight against unfair rulings — and that's in the courts, not on social media. Uthmeier should start by complying with Williams' order and filing the bi-weekly reports. He should also ensure the focus of his office is serving all Floridians, not just those in the governor's mansion and the White House. Williams is right. Fidelity to the rule of law isn't optional for the 'people's lawyer.' If Uthmeier is unable or doesn't want to meet that standard, voters should consider whether he's suited to serve a full term. Click here to send the letter.
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
Nudist accused of murdering elderly neighbors allegedly said he flipped over a hot dog — which he took as a cruel ‘jab'
The nudist charged with brutally murdering his neighbors at their California resort allegedly told another inmate he did it over a hot dog — which he took as a cruel 'jab' at him. Michael Royce Sparks, 62, is accused of bashing in the heads of Daniel Menard, 79, and wife Stephanie Menard, 73, whose dismembered remains were then found under his home on the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Colton. He allegedly told another inmate that 'the incident started over a hot dog that Daniel Menard had purchased for him,' Detective Thomas Williams told a court hearing Monday, according to the Press Telegram. 'He said Mr. Sparks felt that the hot dog was a jab at him, making him feel like he was worth only a dollar hot dog, and that's what set him off that day,' Williams continued. 4 Daniel Menard and Stephanie Menard's deaths were ruled a homicide after the coroner determined they died from blunt-force trauma to the head. Redlands Police Department 4 Michael Royce Sparks was arrested and charged with the murder of his elderly neighbors. AP Sparks allegedly told the inmate he then 'went outside and struck Mr. Menard in the head until his head caved in.' Menard's horrified wife then 'came out yelling, 'No! No!'' — and Sparks began bashing them both 'with a rake, a hoe and a hammer,' he allegedly told his fellow inmate, according to the detective. Sparks then allegedly detailed how he then brought their bodies into a homemade concrete bunker below his home and chopped up their bodies and stuffed them in plastic bags. The suspected killer also claimed that he drowned the Menards' white Shih Tzu, Cuddles, in a sink before tossing her body in the woods where coyotes would eat her, Williams testified. Superior Court Judge Alexander R. Martinez ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold Sparks for trial on two charges of murder and one count of animal cruelty, according to the Press Telegram. 4 The Menards and their dog, a Shih Tzu named Cuddles, were reported missing by a friend on Aug. 25. Redlands Police Department 4 The investigation discovered an underground bunker in Sparks' home where the couple's remains were found. AP Sparks has pleaded not guilty to all charges. After a four-day search for the missing couple, police engaged in an hours-long standoff with Sparks who had barricaded himself inside the bunker. He tried to kill himself rather than be arrested but his gunshot misfired, cops said. When he eventually surrendered, Williams asked him where the Menards were and if they were in trouble. 'He told me they were underneath the trailer and that they didn't need any help,' Williams told the court. 'He replied back that they were in pieces,' Williams testified.
