On August 21, the Omaha Police Department responded to a local daycare center after a 1-year-old girl was left inside a hot van (owned by the daycare). Upon their arrival, the child’s temperature was roughly 109 degrees – she was transported to the Nebraska Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
The infant, who was identified as Ra’Miyah Worthington, was picked up – along with two of her siblings – by the daycare owner, who was identified as Ryan Williams, 62, in the morning. They were transported to the Kidz of the Future Child Development Center II, where they were expected to spend the day.
Two Omaha parents are heartbroken after their 1-year-old was left in a hot car at daycare and died today. They tell @WOWT6News they want justice for their baby, Ra'miyah. pic.twitter.com/LeYPgw4juG
— Marlo Lundak WOWT (@marlolundaktv) August 22, 2023
When he arrived back at the daycare center, he removed her two siblings from the van, but was distracted by a child who didn’t want to get out of the van. Unfortunately, he forgot to go back for the little girl and she was left in the van. It wasn’t until five hours later that the little girl was found, but it was far too late.
Speaking to Omaha police, Ryan Williams explained that he normally does sweeps of the van to ensure everyone and everything was removed safely and properly. Because of the distraction, Williams forgot to go back and check the van – which explains why the little girl was never checked in (like her siblings).
BREAKING — a 1-year-old who was left in a hot van today has passed. @WOWT6News confirmed the van in question is registered to the daycare owner. #Omaha pic.twitter.com/xaX6NdTCUs
— Bella Caracta (@BellaCaracta) August 22, 2023
Williams, who was the driver of the van and owner of the daycare, was arrested and charged with child abuse by neglect resulting in death – his bond was set at $50,000 on Wednesday during his first court appearance. The daycare was immediately shut down while Omaha police continued the investigation.
“The daycare picks them up in the morning, early in the morning,” the girl’s father, Rianna Worthington, said. “My thing is how can you forget a kid that you yourself put into the vehicle, but you took the other two off? How do you forget one when you take two off the van? How did you forget my baby?”
“The daycare has an app,” Worthington continued in an interview with 6 News WWOT. “They’ll tell you stuff with their kids throughout the day. She was never checked in. Only one of the three we sent was checked in, so put two and two together. You had to have my baby left in this car since this morning.”
Omaha Family is ‘Forever Scarred’ By the Death of Their Little Girl
On August 21, shortly after news of the little girl’s death went viral, one of her older siblings created a GoFundMe page and asked for donations so the family could ‘properly grieve during this extremely difficult time.’ In three days, the page has received more than 1,100 donations totaling nearly $35,000.
An Omaha, Nebraska family is grieving after their 1-year-old child died after being left in a hot van. Police have arrested the driver of the daycare van the 1-year-old was found in.
— KTIV News Four (@ktivnews) August 22, 2023
Read more >> https://t.co/rnwaQjIefX pic.twitter.com/mIFN4DFD1t
“Due to the negligence of her daycare provider, her family is forever scarred. To help out with funeral arrangements, household expenses & the care of Ra’Miyah’s 5 other siblings, I am asking anyone who has the means to donate to please do so, even if it’s just $1,” they wrote in the GoFundMe description.
Omaha daycare employee arrested over death of baby left in hot car for hours https://t.co/SSmbVwoW01 pic.twitter.com/0tQzQuLkUF
— The Independent (@Independent) August 24, 2023
The child’s mother, Sina Johnson, protested the daycare center at a rally outside the facility. “My baby did not come home. Her siblings did. She didn’t. How did y’all forget her? Y’all picked all of ’em up, took ’em off the van. How did y’all forget my baby?” Johnson said during the protest – joined by dozens of others.
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Her death is a tragedy to the Omaha community, which entrusts local daycare centers to care for and protect their children when parents aren’t around or available. The Department of Health and Human Services is aiding Omaha police during their investigation to ensure the needs of children are met.
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