Doris Meeks and Harmony Newman ran daycare until Demar died of laziness

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 20th, 2009, 10:36 PM

A Bloomington woman and her adult daughter have been indicted in the death of a 22-month-old boy who was found unresponsive and strapped in a car seat at the woman's home day-care center last summer before dying two days later.

Doris D. Meeks, 48, and Harmony S. Newman, 21, were indicted by a grand jury Thursday on various second-degree manslaughter charges.

Demar Joseph-Amir Hicks was put down for a nap on Aug. 28 at Mama D's Day Care and was found unconscious a few hours later.

An autopsy determined that he died after "being deprived oxygen for an extended period of time," the Dakota County attorney's office said.

The boy was found restrained in the car seat, which was in a playpen in the basement, with the center buckle under his chin. Demar was not breathing and had no heartbeat. His heart was started again by paramedics as he was taken to Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina. He was transferred to Minneapolis Children's Hospital, where he died on Aug. 30.

http://www.startribune.com/local/west/39991927.html

Hicks died on Aug. 30, 2008--two days after officials said the seatbelt was wrapped around his neck while in the seat, which had been placed in a playpen. His death was a result of asphyxia from chest compression due to the car seat straps and being deprived of oxygen, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.

According to the indictment, Meeks had left the home to run errands and left Newman to supervise the 23 children in their care that day. Meeks' only had a license that allowed a maximum of 14 children to be under her supervision, and required two adults present.

Bloomington Police said they've been called to the home 11 times in the past few years. In February 2006, police said they were called to the day care because a four-month-old baby had turned blue. The baby was examined and doctors said the child was fine.

In July, a Hennepin County investigation reported Meeks' business met state standards.

Meeks' license has been suspended and the county has shut down the daycare.

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S798359.shtml?cat=206

This child was almost 2 years old! They used a car seat so they didn't have to get off their lazy asses and care/supervise him.

I cry when I think of this little one doing what they always do... squirming and struggling to get out. No one was paying attention. This would have been so easy to avoid.

**Silvahalo** · February 20th, 2009, 11:36 PM

Just like the case of the little girl who was strapped in a car seat and put in the bathroom for nap time. The daycare giver said she was making too much noise so she put her in another room. The top harness was buckled, not the bottom. She died the same way, but I believe it was there not days later.

The woman was left with 23 children...that's just insane! I'm sure Demar was put down in the basement and strapped in to quiet him and not have to deal with him....
I call bullshit that he was napping. I'd have this woman's head if I were the mother.

Kisses sweet one.

**Peeperann** · February 20th, 2009, 11:45 PM

It's already been proven that you should not leave a child under 8 months in a car seat even unbuckled, the way they lay can cut off their oxygen supply after a couple of hours, but to buckle a child in a seat to make them sleep and put them unsupervised in different room is just plain murder!!

**Dakota Valkyrie** · November 25th, 2009, 06:14 PM

Doris Meeks and Harmony Newman

[...]
Wednesday, a jury found Doris Meeks and her daughter, Harmony Newman, guilty of second-degree manslaughter while committing both child neglect and child endangerment.

However, both were cleared of the charge of second-degree manslaughter while committing culpable negligence.
[...]

"The neglectful actions of these two day care providers led to the tragic death of Demar Hicks. You simply can't leave a child of that young of an age unattended in this manner," said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. "It is to prevent tragedies like this that rules exist as to how many adults must be present and how many children can be cared for in licensed day care settings, and these rules were violated in this instance."

Both have been taken into custody. Sentencing for Meeks and Newman is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 1:30 p.m.

http://wcco.com/local/baby.death.day.2.1333965.html

**skeptik** · November 25th, 2009, 06:44 PM

Stupid, fat, lazy WHORES.

**Obsolete** · November 25th, 2009, 07:09 PM

Bloomington Police said they've been called to the home 11 times in the past few years.

The bitch should have had her license revoked a long ass time ago

**hotcnymom** · November 25th, 2009, 09:13 PM

At the baby's age he most likely used a forward facing safety seat that his mom most likely kept in her car,These lazy twats most likely put him in a little baby car seat that was too small for him.And what the hell do they have a play-pen in there basement for too toss the baby's in when there stupid asses cant Handel there crying....They should be charged with murder...They knew they could not handel all those children and they did it anyway for what...Money!Ugg they make me sick.