Lenoir NC Daycare Worker Charged
A hard-looking 29-year-old Lenoir NC daycare worker has been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter following the tragic death of a 16-month-old child at Creative Beginnings of Lenoir daycare in Caldwell County.
Authorities identified the worker as Alexandra Coffey, who was taken into custody after an investigation into the death of 16-month-old Maddy. Coffey is being held at the Caldwell County Detention Center under a $500,000 secured bond.
According to officials, emergency crews were dispatched to the daycare shortly before 3 p.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive child. Upon arrival, first responders attempted life-saving measures, but the toddler sadly passed away after being transported to a nearby hospital.
The incident sparked outrage online after the child’s mother, Angel Dawn, posted to Facebook demanding answers. In an interview, Dawn told WBTV News that it was Maddy’s first day at Creative Beginnings. In her Facebook post, she said the daycare director told her that Maddy was laid down for a nap at 12:00 p.m. and found unresponsive at 2:35 p.m.—over two hours later.
Dawn also revealed that Maddy’s assigned teacher was on lunch break during the time of the incident. A substitute caregiver, who allegedly panicked and failed to perform CPR, was responsible for watching the children. CPR was reportedly initiated by the daycare director until EMS arrived.
It’s unclear at the moment if Coffey is the teacher or the substitute teacher and while police have not confirmed Coffey’s exact involvement, they believe the child died due to cardiac arrest, pending final results from an official autopsy.
In response, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has issued an emergency suspension of the daycare’s license, citing imminent threats to public safety. Creative Beginnings was ordered to close by the end of the day Wednesday, following Maddy’s death.
