Rasansky Law Firm Blog

Daycare Van Driver Convicted After Child Neglect & Death

The driver of a daycare van has been sentenced to six months of house arrest after the man accidentally left a child in the van to die of heat exhaustion last summer. Circuit Judge Beverly W. Snukals convicted Keishawn L. Whitfield of involuntary manslaughter for the death of 13-month-old Andrew Johnson. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but the judge suspended the majority of the term.

Whitfield drove the van for Yellow Brick Road Day Care and Learning Center, which was owned by his mother, Valerot Whitlow. After dropping the children off at the child care center on July 6, Whitfield went to sleep. Hours later, he received a call from his mother about the missing child, who died of heat stroke in the van after being forgotten.

Following the death of the child, Whitlow voluntarily gave up her daycare license and closed her daycare center. She will be tried for felony child neglect this week.