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Homicide

Day care owner charged in death of toddler found in vehicle

Associated Press
Published | Updated

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky police have charged a day care owner with manslaughter in the death of a toddler found in a hot vehicle.

News media outlets report that 70-year-old Jacquelin Thomas was arrested late Tuesday in connection to the death of 2-year-old Lavontae Swain.

The Courier-Journal reports Thomas pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning in Jefferson District Court.

Police said in the arrest citation that Thomas picked the child up from his home on April 18 to take him to Lil' Kings & Queens child care. He was found unresponsive hours later in the back of a vehicle.

A coroner's report says the child's death was "consistent with hyperthermia," or a high body temperature.

In an order closing the day care, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services said Thomas acknowledged that she forgot the boy.