The inquiry into the death of 6-year-old Winter Jones, who was discovered unresponsive inside a daycare vehicle in August, is complete and currently before a grand jury, the Shelby County District Attorney's office confirmed on Thursday.
Case moved to grand jury
Prosecutors have not disclosed whether the matter has already been presented to the grand jury or if a presentation is still pending. Grand jury proceedings are secret and closed to the public, a routine practice that means many details of the investigation remain private.
Attorneys for Jones' family and members of the family spoke to reporters Thursday at the Walter L. Bailey Jr. Criminal Justice Center in Memphis. According to family counsel, three unidentified people are subjects of the ongoing inquiry for alleged violations of childcare procedures.
"I don't want another child to become a headline before people decide that something needs to change,"
— Nakia Cloman, Winter's mother, at the news conference
Possible charges and next steps
At the news conference, attorney Walter Bailey, representing the family, said investigators are considering a range of potential criminal charges including aggravated child neglect, reckless homicide and tampering with government records. Bailey also said the family intends to pursue civil action.
According to Bailey, the Memphis Police Department led the initial investigation and subsequently transferred it to the District Attorney's office. The DA's office confirmed to The Commercial Appeal on Sept. 10 that the investigation is complete and the matter is before a grand jury. The Commercial Appeal reported it had sought confirmation from the Memphis Police Department but had not received a response by publication time.
What is known about the incident
Jones, who was nonverbal and on the autism spectrum, was found unresponsive on Aug. 13 in a daycare bus parked in Cordova. She was in the care of a childcare provider identified as Kid University, which is now closed. The child had been scheduled for transport to her elementary school but remained in the vehicle in the daycare parking area.
The National Weather Service in Memphis recorded that by about 3 p.m. on Aug. 13 temperatures were around 95 degrees with a heat index near 103.
| Date | Event | Reported data |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 13 | Child found unresponsive in daycare bus | ~3 p.m.; Memphis temperature ~95°F; heat index ~103°F |
| Sept. 10 | Family and attorneys speak to media; DA confirms grand jury review | Three individuals under investigation (unidentified) |
At the Sept. 10 news conference, Winter's father, Bryan Jones, described the loss as "senseless" and attributed it to "absolute negligence." Family attorneys said they could not yet provide more detail about the investigation's findings.
- The child was in the care of Kid University, which has since closed.
- Memphis police conducted the initial probe before handing the case to the DA's office.
- Family lawyers said they will seek civil remedies in addition to the criminal process.
Local implications
The case has renewed questions about oversight of childcare providers in the Memphis area, particularly policies governing transportation, roster checks and the care of children with special needs. Because grand jury proceedings are confidential, residents and advocates will likely look to the Shelby County District Attorney's office for updates after a presentation concludes or if indictments are returned.
For now, the family has publicly called for accountability and for changes to prevent similar tragedies. The case remains under review, and further information will depend on prosecutorial decisions and any public statements from law enforcement or the DA's office.
This is a developing story.
