3 daycare workers answer to charges after 6-year-old girl died inside hot van

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) — Three daycare workers indicted in the hot car death of a 6-year-old girl pleaded not guilty in a Tennessee court Monday morning.

Tametria Norry, 49, Amilya Hardin, 21, and Sabrina Powe, 43, each face charges of aggravated child neglect, criminally negligent homicide, and tampering with or fabricating governmental records.

Norry was the van driver tasked with driving 6-year-old Winter Jones from the Kid University daycare to her elementary school the day she died.

Investigators said Winter, who had autism and was nonverbal, was dropped off at the Cordova daycare on the morning of Aug. 13 for a ride to Macon Hall Elementary School. She never left the vehicle and was not found until hours later, after the van returned to the daycare parking lot.

Employees discovered Winter unresponsive inside the hot van and called 911 at 3:23 p.m. She was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

WMC meteorologists said the temperature outside was 97 degrees when Winter was discovered.

Winter’s uncle, Christopher Jones, said since Winter was nonverbal and autistic, she was unable to alert anyone that she had been left in the van.

“So… she really couldn’t let anybody know that she was still on the bus,” Christopher Jones said. “She couldn’t advocate for herself at all.”

Following Monday’s court appearances, attorney Taurus Bailey of Bailey & Bailey, PLLC, released a statement on behalf of the victim’s family:

Hardin and Powe were released from jail Monday night after each posted a $50,000 bond.

Norry, who was still in custody Wednesday morning for a hearing, was later released Wednesday night, also on a $50,000 bond.

An investigation by the Tennessee Department of Human Services revealed systemic transportation violations at Kid University following Winter’s death, including failing to perform required walk-through inspections, maintaining inaccurate logs, and failing to verify that every child had exited the van.

Kid University closed permanently the day Winter died.

Another court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.

“It hurts me to know that my little 6-year-old niece is no longer here — physically at least. But it really hurts me to see my brother [Winter’s father] in so much pain. It really does,” Christopher Jones said. “This didn’t have to happen.”

The family started a GoFundMe to help pay for Winter’s funeral expenses.