16-Month-Old Allegedly Suffocated to Death by Daycare Worker Who Lay on Top of Her While Scrolling Phone, Lawsuit Claims

A North Carolina day care worker has been charged with manslaughter after a 16-month-old toddler died on the first day at the day care. The woman charged is also being sued by the child's parents.

A 30-year-old North Carolina day care worker, identified as Alexandra Coffey, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of a toddler on May, 2025.

On May 19, 2025, a 16-month-old toddler Maddy Mitchell was dropped off at Creative Beginnings, a day care in North Carolina, for the first time. Mitchell's parents claim that was the last day they saw her alive.

A lawsuit has been filed in Caldwell County on March 16 by Mitchell's parents alleging gross negligence. They claimed in the lawsuit that Coffey placed the little girl face down, put a blanket over her head, and lay on top of her "until her legs stopped moving."

According to the lawsuit, Coffey was attempting to force Mitchell to take a nap and placed her on a sleeping mat. After the toddler got up, Coffey "grabbed" the girl and placed her back on the mat facedown. Coffey then allegedly placed a blanket over her head, held the toddler's legs down with her own legs, then laid her upper body across the child's upper torso and neck.

Coffey allegedly remained on top of Mitchell, who was kicking her free leg for “several minutes until her legs stopped moving.” According to the lawsuit, Coffey remained on top of the child while scrolling through her phone. After some time, Coffey got up, left Mitchell on the floor, and continued her work at the day care.

Coffey did not check the girl for another three hours, during which time she remained motionless under the blanket. When she finally checked on Mitchell, the little girl was allegedly already dead and in the early stages of rigor mortis. When the first responders arrived, there was nothing they could do.