Day care shut down after child death

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) - The State of Indiana forced a Carmel unlicensed child care business to close Thursday after a 5-month-old died.

According to a press release, the state got a court order that required Stacey Cox Child Care, 421 W. Main St., Carmel, to “cease operating, pending a court hearing.”

A 5-month-old was found not breathing in a broken collapsible crib at the child care home on Jan. 24. Business owner Stacey Cox and her daughter, Kirsten Phillips, were supposed to be watching the infant.

During the investigation, a drug screen showed both tested positive for marijuana use, the release said.

The release said the child care was operating illegally and other health and safety issues raised concerns, including a gallon container of bleach on the floor within the reach of children and too many children in the home, according to state law.

"If someone has a home daycare I would think it's wise for them as parents to talk to the neighbors and say, by the way, what do you think? If someone would have come to me I would have told them I was uncomfortable," says neighbor Kelly Baskett.

"It was just devastating. I just wish there was anything I could do to help that baby not be there. I felt it was unsafe and didn't have a way to say anything," says Baskett.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration's Division of Family of Resources, represented by Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, filed the legal action Thursday in Hamilton County Circuit Court. An injunction hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 20.

The state also got an emergency restraining order, preliminary court order and civil penalties against Cox and Phillips, and any volunteers or workers who are listed as respondents in the state’s action, the release said.

Carmel police are investigating the death.