Tiffany Hedrick is an alleged killer from Missouri who has been charged with the murder of three year old Conrad Ashcraft
According to police reports Tiffany Hedrick was working in a child care center where three year old Conrad Ashcraft was found dead under a weighted blanket when his mother came to pick him up
Authorities have said that Conrad Ashcraft, who was a nonverbal autistic child, was forced to sleep underneath an eighteen pound weighted blanket which led to the little boy suffocating
Tiffany Hedrick would be indicted by a Grand Jury for second-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death, and armed criminal action.
Conrad Ashcraft family is suing Tiffany Hedrick for wrongful death
Tiffany Hedrick News
Months after officials began investigating the suffocation death of 3-year-old Conrad Ashcraft at a Park Hills day care, a grand jury has indicted a day care employee on murder charges.
Tiffany Hedrick was indicted Thursday on charges of second-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death, and armed criminal action. She was arrested the same day and is being held at the St. Francois County Adult Detention Center without bond.
In May, Conrad was found dead under a weighted blanket when his mother came to pick him up from Poppy’s Playhouse day care in Park Hills. His mother has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the day care, claiming Hedrick forced Conrad to sleep by applying weight pressure to his body, causing suffocation. Conrad was nonverbal with autism.
According to the indictment, the armed criminal action charge relates to the 18-pound weighted blanket that was placed on top of Conrad.
“We are very relieved and thankful that she was finally arrested,” said Lacey Hardie, the child’s aunt.
The case has sparked outrage in the St. Francois County community, with the woman who owned the day care stepping down from her position on the Park Hills city council.
“The death of a child is a tragedy that shakes the very core of a community,” St. Francois County Sheriff Jeffrey Cites said in a statement. “As sheriff, I appreciate that patience and understanding shown by community members that refrained from rushing to judgment, allowing the judicial process to unfold as it should.”
The lawyer representing Hedrick in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against her filed a motion Thursday to withdraw because Hedrick had stopped communicating with him, according to court documents.
Tiffany Hedrick More News
Ninety days after the death of three-year-old Conrad Ashcraft at Poppy’s Playhouse 2 in Park Hills, a St. Francois County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Tiffany R. Hedrick, an employee at the daycare
The Aug. 14 press release, issued late in the afternoon by Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Trisha Stefanski, who is acting as special prosecutor in the case, listed the following felony charges against Hedrick:
-Second-degree murder
-Abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death
-Armed criminal action
Hedrick was taken into custody by detectives from the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and is being held without bond in the St. Francois County Jail.
Tara Williams, Conrad’s mother, shared her thoughts in the Facebook group “Justice for Conrad.”
“This is the first step in the long road of justice,” she said. “She [Tiffany Hedrick] has been charged, but not convicted yet. We still need to continue to spread awareness and push for Conrad’s Law [a legislative proposal to enact tighter safety protocols in daycares providing services to special needs children, and mandating the use of security cameras at the facilities].”
She said she had spoken to a number of mothers who had experienced similar situations to the tragedy that struck her family. One mother reported that she had finally seen a conviction for the crimes five years after her child was harmed.
“Until she [Tiffany Hedrick] is convicted and in prison for her crimes, JUSTICE IS NOT SERVED,” Williams said.
Even in mourning her mother, who recently passed, she reminded people of the previously planned prayer vigil to be held on the St. Francois County Courthouse steps on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m.
St. Francois County Sheriff Jeff Crites’ office issued a public announcement regarding the arrest made in the extensive death investigation. He praised the detectives for their efforts.
“Their tireless work, professionalism, and commitment have been instrumental in bringing this case to its current stage,” he said. “I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for their collaboration and support throughout this process. Their partnership has been vital in ensuring that the legal proceedings are handled with the utmost care and integrity.
“The death of a child is a tragedy that shakes the very core of a community. As Sheriff, I appreciate the patience and understanding shown by community members who refrained from rushing to judgment, allowing the judicial process to unfold as it should.”
Park Hills Mayor Stacey Easter issued a statement via social media. “I am grateful for the unwavering dedication, professionalism, and commitment to justice from Jeff Crites, St. Francois County Sheriff, and the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office. Today, an innocent child embarked on their journey to justice,” Easter said.
