A distraught mother has alleged that her three-year-old son "lay dead for hours" at a daycare without any staff realizing.
Conrad Ashcraft, a neurodivergent toddler described by family as sweet and loving, was found unresponsive and face down on a pillow by his mother, Tara Williams, when she arrived at Poppy's Playhouse 2 in Park Hills, Missouri, around 4:15PM on Friday (May 16).
“His mom was there at approximately at 4:15PM and found him deceased,” Conrad’s aunt, Lacey Hardie, told KSDK.
According to a redacted lawsuit filed by Williams and reviewed by PEOPLE, an employee at the daycare allegedly used their lower body to apply pressure to Conrad’s chest or abdomen to force him to sleep.
The suit claims that Conrad "suffered a fatal injury" as a result and that the daycare staff failed to recognize when the woman's son "was suffocating or had suffocated".
“He was nonverbal, so he couldn't say 'oh this hurts' or 'I can't breathe,'” the late boy's aunt revealed. The grieving aunt added that his "words were limited" and he had "recently learned to say I love you."
The child’s death has launched a full investigation by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and Missouri’s child services.
The city of Park Hills recused itself from the case, citing a conflict of interest as the daycare is owned by former city councilwoman Spring Gray.
In a statement, the city confirmed that the facility’s ownership by a sitting council member prompted them to refer the matter to the sheriff’s office to ensure the investigation would be “conducted independently and without influence".
"We understand the community's grief and concern. The city has full confidence in the independent investigation and believes that accountability is essential, regardless of the circumstances," they added.
Following public outcry and pressure from the community, Gray submitted her resignation from the Park Hills City Council on Tuesday, May 20.
“Her decision follows recent developments involving her privately owned business,” the city shared in a statement.
The daycare’s license has since been suspended by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, effective immediately.
According to reports, Poppy’s Playhouse 2 has 10 days to appeal, though its Google listing now shows the location as “temporarily closed”.
The lawsuit also alleges that the daycare approved of, and failed to train staff against, techniques that involved using weight and pressure to subdue children into sleep.
"It's not just one person or the owner, it's everybody there who was witnessing the abuse and didn't say anything," Hardie said.
In a heartbreaking detail, the heartbroken aunt remembered her nephew as “just the sweetest boy. Everybody loved him so much, and he just completed our family, and now our family is missing a piece of our heart".
Conrad's obituary described him as a child who “loved swimming, Toy Story, Ms. Rachel, Cocomelon, and the movie Cars,” adding that he also adored pizza and spending time with his family.
Sheriff Jeffrey Crites issued a public appeal for information, noting that the investigation remains ongoing. “Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this heartbreaking event,” his statement read.
Community members have since organized a memorial outside Poppy’s Playhouse and are planning a benefit event at The Bullpen in honor of Conrad’s memory.