In a heartbreaking incident that rocked the Omaha community, a 1-year-old girl named Ra’Miyah Worthington tragically lost her life on August 21 after being left in a hot van owned by the preschool she attended. The devastating incident left her family devastated and the community demanding answers and justice.
The Omaha Police Department received a distress call that day that required an immediate response to a local nursing home. The scene they encountered was nothing short of a nightmare – a one-year-old girl left in a van on a hot summer day. By the time she was found, the baby’s temperature had jumped to a dizzying 109 degrees. He rushed to Nebraska Medical Center, where Ra’Miyah was pronounced dead, leaving her family and the entire community in deep grief.
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
Daycare operator Ryan Williams, 62, picked up Ra’Miyah Worthington and her two siblings in the morning. They took them to Kidz of the Future Child Development Center II to spend the day.
When he returned to the childcare facility, he pulled her two siblings out of the van but was turned away by the youth who refused to exit the vehicle. Sadly, he forgot to get the little baby and she was left in the van. The young girl was not discovered for another five hours, by which time it was too late.
Ryan Williams told Omaha police that he frequently checked the vehicle to make sure everyone and everything was safely removed. Williams got sidetracked and did not check the van, which is why the young child was not checked in (unlike her brothers).
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, a daycare owner and delivery driver, was arrested and charged with child abuse by neglect resulting in death; on Wednesday, during his first court appearance, his bond was set at $50,000. The daycare was immediately placed on lockdown as Omaha police investigated.
The girl’s father, Rianna Worthington, explained that the daycare was raising children in the early hours of the morning. “My problem is, how can you overlook the child you personally placed in the car while removing the other two?” How can you forget one when you’re taking two out of the van? Why did you overlook my child?
Worthington told 6 News WWOT, “Jesle has an app.” “They’ll talk to you about their kids all day. She never got cleared. Put two and two together because only one of the three people we sent was cleared. My child had to be left in this car.” from this morning by you.
‘Forever Scarred’ by Death of their Little Girl: Omaha Family
One of the girl’s older siblings set up a GoFundMe page on August 21 to request funds for the family to “grieve properly at this extremely difficult time”, shortly after the little girl’s death became widely known. The page received more than 1,100 donations totaling nearly $35,000 in just three days.
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
“Her family has been permanently damaged as a result of the care provider’s irresponsibility. I am asking everyone who can donate to do so, even if it is just $1, to help with funeral arrangements, household and childcare costs.” Ra’Miyah’s 5 other siblings said on the GoFundMe page.
Sina Johnson, the child’s mother, spoke out against the preschool at a rally outside the building. “My baby didn’t come home. It was her siblings. Not her. How did you miss her? You all picked them all up and took them out of the van. Why did you all overlook my baby? A large number of people joined.” protest, according to Johnson.
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
This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the Omaha community and shed light on the critical importance of child safety and accountability in daycare facilities. The Department of Health and Human Services is working with Omaha Police in their ongoing investigation to ensure the needs of children in such facilities are protected.
As the community mourns the loss of this precious child, it remains united in seeking justice and closure for Ra’Miyah Worthington, whose life was tragically cut short on what should have been any other day.
In memory of Ra’Miyah, her family, and all those affected by this heartbreaking incident, we can only hope that such a tragedy serves as a catalyst for change and greater vigilance in protecting the welfare of children in the care of others…