Two Charged With Homicide For Daycare Hot Van Death

August 23, 2017

Two people were arrested Wednesday morning in connection with an Escambia County daycare death.

Louvenia Shantae Johnson, 28, and Cornell Antonio McGee, 27, have been charged with homicide – negligent manslaughter. Both were employees at the In His Arms Christian Academy on Detroit Boulevard.

Both suspects caused the death by “knowingly and intentionally not following the established procedure of ensuring the In His Arms Christian Academy van was empty and clear of children. Their neglect resulted in the death of three-year-old Jai’nier Barnes,” according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

Jai’nier, 3, was found Friday afternoon in a hot van outside the academy. She was later pronounced deceased at West Florida Hospital.

The Florida Department of Children and Families has closed the facility until further notice, issuing an emergency suspension order as an investigation is conducted.

The Early Learning Coalition, which administers government funds, pulled its contract with the academy.

No further arrests are expected in this case, deputies said.

Comments

15 Responses to “Two Charged With Homicide For Daycare Hot Van Death”

  1. Sandra Johnson Sandra on August 25th, 2017 7:22 pm

    Praying for the little angel and workrrs.sandra

  2. Traumaqueen on August 25th, 2017 12:20 pm

    @Cookie

    Don’t say never because there have been stories of children being found on buses after hours. This is a sad story but it seems there are lazy and inept people at all kinds of jobs

  3. lance s. burklund on August 25th, 2017 1:15 am

    In response to mark,there is no excuse for these daycare workers.Something as simple as head count could have prevented this.

  4. Cookie on August 24th, 2017 9:30 am

    DO YOU KNOW WHY THIS DOESNT HAPPEN ON SCHOOL BUSSES? BECAUSE IT IS MANDATORY BEFORE THE START OF EACH TRIP YOU HAVE TO CHECK THE INSIDE OF THE BUS AND AFTER YOU STOP THE BUS IN THE MORNING AND EACH AFTERNOON YOU CHECK THE BUS. SO I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THESE DAYCARES CANNOT DO HE SAME. IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO SIMPY CHECK AND MAKE SURE. THERE REALLY IS NO EXCUSE FOR IT.

  5. dfunck on August 24th, 2017 8:41 am

    Bill, unlike Alabama, all childcare facilities in Florida must be licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families – including those housed in churches. Unfortunately, meeting minimum standards of DCF regulations does not ensure quality in staff qualifications or adult/child ratios. Anne, if this facility has a contract with the Early Learning Coalition, that means they provide Voluntary PreK for four year-old children, which is a state funded program.

  6. Bama Girl on August 24th, 2017 7:41 am

    This is so sad all the way around. My prayers are with this child’s family. No one should have to bury their child.

  7. Mark on August 23rd, 2017 9:06 pm

    I am praying for the family of this precious child AND for these 2 employees, whom I’m sure did not intend for any harm to come upon her. Daycare centers carry a huge responsibility. It is easy to over look 1 missing when you have so many to look after. What a sad tradgity.

  8. Robert on August 23rd, 2017 8:21 pm

    So sorry for this family, and the daycare workers…I can’t imagine how they are feeling. I think anyone who has had children, if they are honest, has had times where our children were unaccounted for, and it was only by the grace of God that nothing happened. It would be all the more difficult with groups of children. I’m praying right now for the family, Louvenia, and Cornell

  9. anne 1of2 on August 23rd, 2017 7:37 pm

    They need to get 10 years of community service, not jail time. Outside in the sun too.

  10. Bill on August 23rd, 2017 6:06 pm

    It is the pathetic practice of those responsible for monitoring day care facilities opened in organizations (Church’s) where there are minimal ordinances and personnel check (background) for employment. Here, Mobile yesterday, these self proclaimed providers, with massive criminal records, would not be able to seek employment in any government or state funded Child Care facilitiy. SHUT EVERYONE OF THEM DOWN.
    And yes, most importantly, I pray for the lives of those infants who were taken to our Father in heaven.

  11. Grand Locust on August 23rd, 2017 5:32 pm

    Prayers to the family for loss of a three year old child. This has to be very difficult for all involved, and I would be fine with the law looking for revenge if it guaranteed that these accidents would stop. The people charged never intended to hurt that child, nor will their sitting in jail at taxpayers expense save the next child who is negligently left in a vehicle. How about a simple solution of equipping day care vehicles with readily available electronic warning systems when a child is left in a vehicle. More prisons to house non violent folks who screwed up are bankrupting our country, and not doing one thing to stop future neglect or crime. It is like clockwork that the SA compounds a tragedy by the illusion that this is going to do anything positive for society.

  12. Anne on August 23rd, 2017 3:54 pm

    So, there’s no Check-In system to account for which children are “Present and Accounted For” ?
    The whole thing just sounds like a very loosely run bunch, like most of these thrown together organizations.
    Is this a taxpayer funded operation?

  13. chris on August 23rd, 2017 3:38 pm

    Where in the article was a cell phone mentioned? Please present factual information, not speculation. Why not blame the person? How about the fact that somebody left a kid in a hot car?

  14. Janet on August 23rd, 2017 2:18 pm

    @ Puddin. I agree with you and I blame the constant use of cell phones that helps to make people forget what their job entails, such as clearing the van, etc before answering or sending a call or text. Not saying this was the reason.. how sad for that little child.

  15. Puddin on August 23rd, 2017 1:24 pm

    So sad. Prayers for the family.

    This is happening way too often. If just take a a second to check for kids.