A California daycare owner has been sentenced to three years in county jail after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 16-month-old girl who died while under her care.
Stacy Lee Snow, 54, admitted responsibility during an emotional court appearance, where she apologised to the child’s family and acknowledged her negligence.
“I am ashamed of my negligence,” Snow told the court. “I will not ask for your forgiveness because I do not deserve it.”
Snow operated an in-home childcare facility, Snow Angels Childcare and Preschool, in El Cajon, California, for 13 years. The child had reportedly been attending the daycare for only a short period before the incident occurred on April 8, 2025.
According to prosecutors, the toddler was unusually restless on the day of her death. In an attempt to calm her, Snow placed the child in a crib for a nap and covered it with a plastic cot and mesh barrier to prevent her from climbing out.
The child was left alone in the room with the door closed. About an hour later, Snow returned and found the toddler unresponsive, with her head trapped between the plastic cot and the crib railing.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene and transported the child to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A medical examiner later determined that the cause of death was accidental asphyxiation.
Investigators said Snow failed to carry out mandatory safety checks required under California law, which stipulates that children in care must be monitored at least every 15 minutes.
Authorities also revealed that the child’s mother had previously asked Snow not to allow the girl to sleep during daycare hours. However, Snow admitted she ignored the instruction and left the child unattended for an extended period.
During sentencing, the judge described the tragedy as “absolutely and wholly avoidable,” criticising Snow’s actions as both intentional and negligent before imposing the maximum sentence permitted for involuntary manslaughter.
The victim’s mother, who remained anonymous throughout the proceedings, told the court she continues to struggle with the loss.
“I still cannot bring myself to pack away her belongings because doing so feels like losing her all over again,” she said.
Snow is also facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the child’s family.
Before the incident, the daycare had reportedly operated for more than a decade without any citations or disciplinary issues from state regulators.
