• About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
The Red Bay News
Advertisement
  • News
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Government
  • Opinion
  • Features
    • Baymont Magazine
    • Church Directory
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • Classifieds
  • Events Calendar
  • Photo Gallery
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Government
  • Opinion
  • Features
    • Baymont Magazine
    • Church Directory
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • Classifieds
  • Events Calendar
  • Photo Gallery
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
The Red Bay News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Crime

Five indicted in Red Bay childcare center infant death

by Jason Collum
June 2, 2022
in Crime, News
0
Autumn Rose Wells (courtesy of the Wells family)

RUSSELLVILLE | The former owner and four former employees of the now-closed Tiny Tigers Pre-K in Red Bay have been indicted by a Franklin County grand jury on charges related to the March 9 death of Autumn Rose Wells, an infant who was in the facility’s care. Two of the former employees now face manslaughter charges.

Red Bay Police were in the process late Wednesday of arresting those charged. The charges in the indictments include:

  • Angelene Chamblee: Child Care Act Violation (six counts); Forgery 2nd Degree; Forgery 2nd Degree
  • Payton Nicole Gann: Manslaughter; False Reporting to Law Enforcement
  • Madison Jade McCalpin: Manslaughter; False Reporting to Law Enforcement
  • Teia Kay Gann: Tampering with a Witness
  • Hannah Grace Letson: Tampering with Physical Evidence; Tampering with a Witness

Chamblee was the owner of the daycare, which was ordered closed on March 16 following an inspection by the Alabama Department of Human Resources (ADHR). Chamblee surrendered the daycare’s license after ADHR officials cited numerous deficiencies at the facility, including unsafe sleeping practices for young children, improper staffing of classrooms, and false statements given to ADHR officials regarding events surrounding the Wells, who was just four months old at the time of her death.

Wells was pronounced dead on March 9 after she was found unresponsive by workers at the daycare. According to the Red Bay Police Department, Chamblee and an employee took Wells to Red Bay Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The hospital contacted the Red Bay Police Department and Wells’ body was sent to the Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville for an autopsy. Gann was arrested on March 11 by Red Bay Police Department investigator Kyle Gober on the misdemeanor charge of false reporting to law enforcement.

The ADHR letter in March cited a “lack of supervision by the staff and an inappropriate sleeping environment” resulting in Wells’ death. Additionally, the letter gave insight into the charges of false reporting to Law Enforcement when it detailed the lie that was first told to ADHR about how Wells was placed to sleep. A staff member initially said Wells was placed in a swing, but later told Red Bay Police Wells was, in fact, placed on her stomach to sleep – in violation of state standards.

State Performance Standards require a child to be placed on its back to sleep in a crib with a tight-fitted sheet and nothing else. The letter stated that the sleeping position Wells was in and the blanket cover would have made it difficult for the only teacher in the classroom – another violation – to tell if the child was under duress, such as having difficulty breathing.

Evidence reviewed by the grand jury led to the additional charge of manslaughter against Gann. Wednesday’s arrests are the first in the matter since Gann was initially charged by Red Bay Police. Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing was expected to provide more details on the case and the indictments later this week.

Joel Wells, Autumn’s grandfather, speaking on behalf of the Wells family, told The Red Bay News the family struggles with Autumn’s death and can only hope this doesn’t happen to another family.

“Autumn Rose Wells was an incredible gift from God,” Wells said in a statement to The News. “We miss her indescribably every day. We pray this never happens again and hopefully that through her life another mother will be spared the agony of burying a precious child. We also want to express our overwhelming gratitude for the dedicated efforts of the Red Bay Police Department throughout this investigation.”

Red Bay Police Chief Janna Jackson said everything surrounding the case has been difficult given Wells’ age but commended her officers for how they have handled the case.

“It was a very tragic event but our investigator, Sgt. Kyle Gober, put a lot of effort and detail into the investigation and presented it to the grand jury,” Jackson said. “Now we have the indictments on that, and I commend him on a thorough investigation. And our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Autumn Wells’ family.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Tags: Autumn WellsTiny Tigers Pre-K
Previous Post

Janet Davis Gober

Next Post

Robert Montgomery

Jason Collum

Related Posts

Two vehicles were parked outside Tiny Tigers Pre-K late Wednesday, March 16, after the facility's license was suspended and the facility ordered closed by the Alabama Department of Human Resources. News photo/Jason Collum
Crime

Franklin ADA gives details of indictments in death of infant at Red Bay daycare

June 14, 2022
Two vehicles were parked outside Tiny Tigers Pre-K late Wednesday, March 16, after the facility's license was suspended and the facility ordered closed by the Alabama Department of Human Resources. News photo/Jason Collum
News

Daycare closed; investigation of infant’s death continues

March 18, 2022
News

Red Bay Police, Alabama DHR investigating death of infant at daycare facility

March 11, 2022
Next Post

Robert Montgomery

Stay Connected test

  • 87.2k Followers
  • 99 Subscribers
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Motorhomes sit outside the Tiffin Motorhomes manufacturing facility in Belmont on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (News photo/Jason Collum)

Tiffin Motorhomes lays off ‘significant number’ of employees

December 5, 2022

Five indicted in Red Bay childcare center infant death

June 2, 2022

Tiffin Group shutting down Vanleigh operations

January 9, 2023
Kelly Mongiello

Georgia woman charged in Tiffin Campground RV rampage

July 12, 2019

Note puts school on soft lockdown

0
Members of the Mississippi Highway Patrol SWAT Team stand guard outside the home on Alice Hall Road in Itawamba County where last weekend’s murder and hostage situation took place. The immediate area was evacuated and no traffic was allowed on the road in front of the house. 
News photo/Jason Collum

Suspect dead after 32-hour standoff

0
Crews from the Red Bay Street Department worked Tuesday morning to clear debris from a home on 11th Avenue, where a retaining wall for the street collapsed, sending rip rap, mud and crossties into the home. The street has suffered significant damage from all the rain received this year.
News photo/Jason Collum

Storms pummel west Franklin County

0

Vina woman dies as car crashes into parking lot

0

Diana Marcello

January 26, 2023

Jean Malone

January 25, 2023

David Schulman

January 23, 2023

Dicky Tedford

January 23, 2023

Recent News

Diana Marcello

January 26, 2023

Jean Malone

January 25, 2023

David Schulman

January 23, 2023

Dicky Tedford

January 23, 2023
The Red Bay News

Covering the Red Bay, Vina, Belmont, Golden and western Franklin County area like no one else, since 1963.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Baymont Magazine
  • Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Food
  • Government
  • Heritage
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • State/Regional

Recent News

Diana Marcello

January 26, 2023

Jean Malone

January 25, 2023
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2022 The Red Bay News. An HPI publication. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result

© 2022 The Red Bay News. An HPI publication. All rights reserved.

error: Content is protected !!
Go to mobile version
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.