(RepublicanView.org) – A former daycare driver has been found guilty in the death of a toddler in Omaha, NE.
A judge issued a guilty verdict against Ryan D. Williams, a 62-year-old man who worked as a driver for Kidz of the Future Childcare, on charges related to child abuse and negligence. His sentence hearing has been scheduled for July 22.
The judge, Peter Bataillon, said his ruling does not mean that Williams is “a horrible person or bad person.” He instead said that it just means he committed a horrible mistake at work. He also grilled the daycare for failing to implement proper safety procedures to prevent such a horrific mistake. However, he also said that Williams was the one who neglected to conduct a proper sweep of the vehicle.
Williams told the court that one of the nine children riding in the van refused to get out, which ultimately distracted him during the time he would’ve normally conducted a thorough sweep of the van. One-year-old Ra’miyah Worthington was trapped in the vehicle as temperatures soared to 97 degrees. The heat index went as high as 114 degrees.
Williams later returned to the van and drove it back to the daycare. He got out to inspect the air conditioning vents when he found the toddler’s lifeless body. He picked her up, ran inside, and called the police. He admitted his mistake shortly after they arrived. She was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead shortly after arriving. An autopsy later revealed brain swelling that likely followed organ failure.
Williams could face up to 20 years in prison.
The girl’s parents, Iranna Worthington and Sina Johnson, said they were happy with the verdict. They attended every trial while wearing shirts with pictures of their daughter.
An average of nearly 40 children die every year after being left in hot cars. The years 2018 and 2019 currently rank as the worst years over the past three decades.
Copyright 2024, RepublicanView.org
