A mother in Missouri claims her autistic son died while at a daycare run by a now-former city councilwoman.
According to a redacted lawsuit obtained by PEOPLE, Tara Williams claims that her son, Conrad Ashcraft, “suffered a fatal injury” on Friday, May 16, while at Poppy’s Playhouse 2 in Park Hills, Missouri.
She claims that an unnamed daycare employee “applied weight and pressure” to his “chest and/or abdomen, while he was laying down, to subdue” him “in an effort to sleep.”
Williams alleges that the defendant, Poppy’s Playhouse, LLC, “failed to properly train and supervise its employees” and “knew and approved of the technique of using human extremities and/or other devices to apply weight and pressure to a child’s body in an effort to put a child to sleep.”
Williams claims that the day care failed to recognize when her son “was suffocating or had suffocated” and, as a result, “was killed and remained laying on the floor of Defendant’s facility for hours without any effort to determine his wellbeing.”
While not mentioned in the suit, Lacey Hardie, Conrad’s aunt, told KDSK that Conrad was nonverbal with autism, stating that his “words were limited” and that he had “recently learned to say I love you.”
Conrad’s obituary describes him as a boy who “loved swimming, Toy Story, Ms. Rachel, Cocomelon, and the movie Cars.”
“He also loved pizza and enjoyed spending time with his parents and his family,” according to the funeral director.
The City of Park Hills confirmed in a statement that the daycare is owned by a Park Hills City Council member, prompting them to refer the case to the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department.
“This ensures the investigation is conducted independently and without influence,” according to a statement. “We acknowledge the community’s grief and concern. The city fully supports the independent investigation and believes that accountability is essential, regardless of the circumstances.”
According to court documents reviewed by PEOPLE, Spring Gray owns the daycare. On Tuesday, May 20, Mayor Stacey Easter announced that Gray had “submitted her formal letter of resignation from her position as Ward 2 City Council member.”
The city of Park Hills also confirmed her resignation, stating that “her decision follows recent developments involving her privately owned business.”
St. Francois County Sheriff Jeffrey Crites stated in a press release that the sheriff’s office “immediately launched an inquiry and continues to work diligently to uncover all relevant facts surrounding the incident.”
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“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this heartbreaking event,” the press release read. It urged anyone with relevant information to come forward as the investigation continues.
On Wednesday, May 21, KDSK reported, citing the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, that Poppy’s Playhouse 2’s operating license had been suspended due to the sheriff’s death investigation.
According to the news station, the suspension was effective immediately, with the daycare having 10 days to appeal the decision. According to a Google listing, Poppy’s Playhouse 2 is “temporarily closed.”
