Dunwoody daycare owner charged in baby’s death pleads guilty as parents sit in emotional hearing

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A Dunwoody home daycare center owner pleaded guilty on charges connected to the death of an infant.

Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes was in the courtroom when a DeKalb County judge sentenced Amanda Hickey on Friday.

The judge sentenced Hickey to 35 years in prison with 30 to serve. The three years she has already spent in jail will count toward her sentence.

In Feb. 2021, police responded to Little Lovey Daycare on Leisure Lane where a child, identified by his family as Charlie Cronmiller, was found unresponsive in his crib at the daycare.

Investigators found Charlie had been placed on his stomach and left unattended for more than two hours.

Police arrested Hickey, the owner of the daycare, and charged her with murder.

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At first, parents thought it was a mistake until investigators looked at the surveillance tape from that entire day. Investigators said that Hickey abused a total of seven children on the recording, from tossing them around like rag dolls- to slamming them to the floor.

Hickey insists this was one and only day she abused children. On Friday, she expressed remorse and said she was struggling mentally and just lost it that day.

The Cronmiller family says losing their young son has ruined their lives forever.

“Everyday is like running a marathon trying to remind myself I’m a great mom, I created a safe space for Charlie, I didn’t knowingly put him in danger, I did not deserve this,” the boy’s mother said.

Video also showed Hickey abusing six other children. All of their parents were in the courtroom.

RELATED STORIES:

• Warrants say Dunwoody day care owner yanked baby’s hair, shoved and shook infants
• State shuts down day care center after 4-month-old’s death
• Bond denied for metro daycare owner accused in 4-month-old’s death

The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office issued the following statement:

“Today’s plea and sentencing put to rest what has been a painful chapter for the families who once trusted Amanda Hickey to watch over what they hold most dear, their children,” said DA Sherry Boston. “While her decision to plead guilty to her crimes will not undo the harm she inflicted, it does spare these families the pain of re-living their worst days at trial. We appreciate the thoughtful sentence handed down by Judge Dear Jackson and hope it brings some measure of peace to everyone who has been impacted.”

You can research all licensed child care providers in Georgia anytime by visiting www.qualityrated.org or www.decal.ga.gov or calling1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS

Also, if parents or families are ever concerned about their childcare provider, they can contact the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning at 404-656-5957 or e-mail ccscomplaints@decal.ga.gov.

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Owner of Dunwoody daycare where 4-month-old died indicted on murder, other abuse charges

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