Toddler was nephew of accused day care owner

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Police have arrested the owner of a day care after a child under her care died after being left in a hot van.

Police arrested 70-year-old Jacquelin Thomas late Tuesday night in connection with the death of 2-year-old LaVontae Xavier Swain on April 18.

According to the arrest report, Swain died after being left in a van for several hours. The arrest report states that outside temperatures reached 86 degrees that day. A coroner’s report lists the cause of death as hyperthermia.

Police say Thomas, who owns Lil’ Kings and Queens Daycare on Terry Road, was driving the van and “acting in her official capacity” when the death occurred.

A JCPS spokesperson said carpool attendants noticed the unresponsive child at Gutermuth Elementary in the back of the van in the carpool line. Staff and a school nurse immediately called 911.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services ordered the day care center closed indefinitely two days after Swain’s death. The order states that Thomas “verbally acknowledged having forgotten the 2-year-old child.”

Swain’s mother, Carless Swain, told us in an interview that her aunt runs the day care center.

Thomas is charged with one count of second degree manslaughter.