Daycare driver in 6-year-old’s hot van death admits she skipped safety check because ‘she was hot,’ records show

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) — The daycare van driver charged in the hot van death of a 6-year-old girl told Tennessee state inspectors that she skipped her required walk-through inspection of the vehicle because “she was hot,” according to records newly obtained from the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS).

The documents outline a sequence of falsified logs, missed alarms and skipped safety checks on Aug. 13 at the Kid University daycare in Cordova, where 6-year-old Winter Jones was left trapped inside a parked van for nearly six hours before she was found.

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

According to a TDHS fatality investigation report, driver Tametria Norry, 49, signed Winter onto Van #33 at 8:35 a.m. and falsely logged her as dropped off at Macon Hall Elementary School at 8:50 a.m. In reality, Winter—who had autism and was nonverbal—never exited the vehicle.

When questioned by state licensing consultants the following day, Norry admitted she never checked the van for remaining children because of the heat.

Two designated daycare reviewers, 21-year-old Amilya Hardin and 43-year-old Sabrina Powe, also admitted to inspectors that neither checked the van when it returned to the center, though both signed the log confirming a physical walk-through occurred.

State records also revealed the van lacked a mandated vehicle alarm monitoring device, and none of the facility’s transportation staff had completed required six-month refresher safety training. Investigators noted that no daycare staff members reported administering CPR or first aid after discovering the child.

Staff found Winter inside the vehicle around 2:30 p.m., according to Department of Children’s Services records. Responding paramedics found Jones in cardiac arrest, and she was pronounced dead at Baptist Women’s and Children’s Hospital at 3:12 p.m. Memphis police later impounded the van from the daycare.

Following the investigation, TDHS cited Kid University with five major transportation violations and placed Norry on an emergency statewide safety plan barring her from working at or visiting any licensed childcare agency in Tennessee.

The findings surfaced after Norry, Hardin, and Powe pleaded not guilty in court Monday morning. Each faces charges of aggravated child neglect, criminally negligent homicide, and tampering with or fabricating government records.

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

Hardin and Powe were released from jail Monday night after posting $50,000 bond each. Norry was released Wednesday night on a $50,000 bond.

Kid University closed permanently following Winter’s death. Another court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.

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.”

He added, “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. This didn’t have to happen.”

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