PARK HILLS, MO — Authorities have arrested a local day care worker in connection with the death of a 3-year-old boy, who investigators say was suffocated after being left under a weighted blanket with his arms restrained at a Park Hills day care center.
Tiffany Hedrick, 40, was indicted last week in St. Francois County on charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death. The charges stem from the death of Conrad Ashcraft, a nonverbal autistic toddler who died in May at Poppy’s Playhouse 2, a day care located about 65 miles south of St. Louis.
Prosecutors allege that while responsible for Conrad’s care, Hedrick bound the boy’s arms and placed him face down beneath a weighted blanket weighing over 18 pounds. According to court documents, the blanket was not owned by Conrad or his family, but was used by staff to subdue children during nap time.
Investigators say the weighted blanket, combined with the position in which Conrad was placed, led to the boy’s asphyxiation. The indictment states Hedrick failed to provide appropriate supervision and care, resulting in the child’s death.
The armed criminal action charge is tied to Hedrick’s use of the heavy blanket in what authorities allege was the act that caused the fatal suffocation.
A wrongful death lawsuit filed in May by Conrad’s father alleges further details, stating that the child was initially placed on his back with his arms trapped before being flipped onto his stomach as he struggled. The lawsuit contends that his face was ultimately covered by the weighted blanket and that staff failed to realize he was in distress, leaving him for hours without checking his condition.
Records indicate the incident occurred on May 16. When Conrad’s mother arrived to pick him up at around 4:15 p.m., approximately four hours after the center’s scheduled nap time began, she found her son deceased on the floor where he had been left.
Following the tragedy, the day care’s owner, Spring Gray, resigned from her position as Park Hills Ward 2 councilwoman. The day care itself is now facing legal action in addition to the criminal case against Hedrick.
The civil suit alleges gross negligence by the facility and its staff, arguing that none of the employees identified Conrad was in need of help or was unresponsive for an extended period. Family members have said Conrad’s inability to speak made the incident all the more devastating, as he was unable to call out for help.
Hedrick is being held in the St. Francois County Jail without bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for August 22. The ongoing investigation continues as both criminal and civil proceedings move forward.