New lawsuit alleges daycare worker laid on top of toddler who wouldn’t take nap, smothering her

LENOIR, N.C. – The parents of a 16-month old child who died at a Lenoir daycare are now suing the woman police say killed their child.

Maddy Mitchell died during her first day at Creative Beginnings Daycare. The lawsuit claims daycare worker Alexandra Coffey laid on top of the toddler when she wouldn’t take a nap. The lawsuit says the child’s leg kicked for several minutes and then stopped. Coffey allegedly didn’t check on the girl for three hours. The lawsuit alleges that when Coffey did finally check on the child, she found her dead from smothering and compression asphyxia.

WCCB attended Maddy’s funeral back in May, where we heard from the child’s parents. Her mom, Angel Blankenship, said, “She filled our lives with nothing but love and joy she loved everyone so much…except Santa.”

Coffey is charged with involuntary manslaughter in Maddy’s death. The family is asking for at least $25,000 in damages for Coffey’s alleged negligence.