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A former Missouri daycare worker is facing murder charges for the suffocation death of 3-year-old Conrad Ashcraft, a nonverbal autistic child.
KSDK reported that on Thursday, a grand jury indicted Tiffany Hedrick, 40, who worked at Poppy’s Playhouse in Park Hills, on second-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death, and armed criminal action.
She is being held without bond at the St. Francois County Adult Detention Center.
“We are very relieved and thankful that she was finally arrested,” said Lacey Hardie, the child’s aunt.
Legal documents state that Conrad’s cause of death is officially asphyxiation, according to FOX 2.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, on May 16, Tara Williams claimed that her son, Conrad, sustained “a fatal injury” after the suspect used her legs to apply pressure to Conrad’s chest or abdomen in an attempt to get the child to sleep.
When Williams arrived at the daycare, she found her son under an 18-pound weighted blanket, dead.
CrimeOnline reported that on May 19 in St. Francois County, Williams filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the daycare on behalf of her son, alleging that the daycare knowingly approved of a technique used by an employee that led to the child’s death.
Since Williams’ lawsuit, a nonprofit advocacy group is pushing for legislation, known as Conrad’s Law, that would mandate cameras in all public daycare centers in Missouri.
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids wants to apply the proposal to licensed daycare facilities across the state.
“The safety and welfare of children placed in these facilities needs to be the priority. Their livelihood usurps privacy issues, which themselves can be addressed effectively within this legislation,” Daniel Chapin, the founder of Uvalde Foundation for Kids, stated, according to FOX 2.
Conrad’s Law is also seeking to mandate training for staff members caring for neurodivergent and special needs children.
Herick’s lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, entered a not guilty plea for his client, according to FOX 2.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Family Handout]
