Metro Atlanta daycare worker arrested for murder after baby dies in his sleep

ATLANTA — A daycare teacher now faces murder in the death of a 7-month-old boy in her care.

The child’s mother is still upset that it took two years for anyone to be arrested.

Channel 2′s Tom Jones was in southwest Atlanta Friday, where Zakiyyah Morris said her call to police detectives is what finally got the ball rolling in the case.

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A photo shows the last time Morris saw her son, Ocean, alive after she dropped him off at the Easter Seals Center Sylvan Day Center two years ago.

“I did not expect to lose my child,” Morris said.

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For two years, Morris fought to learn what happened to her son and why no one was charged.

Police said they now have answers.

Officers said daycare teacher Stephanie Thompson left Ocean sleeping on a boppy pillow for 20 minutes to an hour, which is against the daycare’s policy.

When Thompson finally checked on Ocean, he wasn’t breathing and later died.

Police said Bright From the Start cited the daycare and Thompson for violating two state codes -- failure to supervise and placing a child in an unsafe sleeping environment.

Thompson now faces second-degree murder and felony child cruelty charges.

Morris’ attorney Reginald Lewis said the arrest wouldn’t have happened without his client’s “never give up” spirit.

“This young lady, from the beginning, was just persistent,” Lewis said.

Morris said that in April, she contacted police detective Summer Benton, who began investigating the case, and that’s when charges were filed.

“I was definitely relieved. It was like a weight off my shoulders,” Morris said. “I thanked her one million and one times. I even called back like, ‘Is this real?’”

Lewis said that even though Bright From the Start issued citations, police never got that information until they passed it along.

The state organization shared a copy of a letter dated September 20, 2021 that was sent to Easter Seals North Georgia CEO Donna Davis and daycare director Lena Barber with Channel 2 Action News that read:

Dear Ms. Davis and Ms. Barber:

As a result of a self-reported incident received on February 3, 2021, an investigation was conducted at Easter Seals Child Development Center- Sylvan located at 1757 Melrose Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30310. The findings of the investigation substantiated that serious rule violations occurred which jeopardized the health and safety of a child in care. Specifically, on February 2, 2021, there was a lack of supervision and a violation of safe sleep requirements when a seven-month-old infant was placed on a boppy pillow to sleep. Professional medical attention was required. This incident resulted in two high harm citations. Each rule violation for which Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (Bright from the Start) is taking this action is described in Exhibit “A” which is attached to this letter.

Based on the facility’s noncompliance with the rules, the license holder is hereby notified of the intent of Bright from the Start to impose an enforcement fine in the amount of $499.00. Bright from the Start’s legal authority for imposition of an enforcement fine is found in O.C.G.A. Sections 20-1A-1 et seq. and the Bright from the Start Rules for Child Care Learning Centers, Chapter 591-1-1 of the Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia.

The license holder is also advised that the failure to correct and maintain compliance with these rules may result in further adverse action which could include the revocation of the license to operate Easter Seals Child Development Center- Sylvan and could also include the imposition of daily fines for each day the violations continue. Licensure staff will conduct a follow-up visit to determine compliance with the rules and regulations.

The license holder has the right to submit a written statement detailing why Bright from the Start should not take this adverse action. If the license holder submits a written statement, the statement will be placed in the facility’s state file. The license holder also has the right to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge at the Office of State Administrative Hearings to appeal this adverse action. The statement and/or request for hearing must be made in writing and sent to:

Legal Department: Appeals Section

Bright from the Start

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 754, East Tower

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

The license holder’s statement and/or request for hearing must be postmarked within 10 days of your receipt of this Notice. A hearing request stays or suspends the imposition of the adverse action.

If the license holder does not appeal this action within 10 days of receipt of this Notice, the decision to impose an enforcement fine will be final. Payment of the enforcement fine would then be expected within 30 days of receipt of this Notice and should be submitted through Decal Koala (decalkoala.com). If the license holder does not pay the fine as finally determined by Bright from the Start, the license to operate the facility will be revoked.

Thompson’s attorney would not comment on the case.

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