DUNWOODY, Ga. — A former Dunwoody day care owner was sentenced Friday in the 2021 death of an infant in her care.
A judge sentenced 48-year-old Amanda Hickey to 35 years, with 30 years to be served behind bars and five on probation. A grand jury indicted Hickey on murder charges last year after a 4-month-old child was found dead in his crib on Feb. 3, 2021, at her Little Lovey home day care.
Investigators said the infant was placed down for his nap on his stomach - which is against a medical recommendation for a child of his age. Video obtained shows the child was left unsupervised for over two hours before he was found.
Throughout the investigation, authorities said they also uncovered other alleged abuse against six other victims involving children six months to 16 months old. Hickey is accused of holding a 7-month-old with one hand by the leg and letting go of him while he was upside down, causing the child to fall on his face, records show. In another incident, investigators said Hickey also grabbed a 14-month-old by the hair forcing them to lay down, according to a warrant.
Little Lovey was licensed to care for a maximum of six children but was operating at nearly double capacity on the date of the alleged incidents. The facility is no longer in operation.
“Today’s plea and sentencing put to rest what has been a painful chapter for the families who once trusted Amanda Hickey to watch over what they hold most dear, their children,” DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said in a news release.
“While her decision to plead guilty to her crimes will not undo the harm she inflicted, it does spare these families the pain of re-living their worst days at trial," she added. "We appreciate the thoughtful sentence handed down by Judge Dear Jackson and hope it brings some measure of peace to everyone who has been impacted.”
Also included in her sentence, the judge said once Hickey is released, she can't have contact with the victims or their families, she can't contact or work with any children under the age of 13 and she can't gain financially from the case.
Families are reminded that they can research all licensed child care providers in Georgia by visiting www.qualityrated.org or www.decal.ga.gov or calling 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS. If parents or families are ever concerned about their child care provider, they can contact the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning at 404-656-5957 or e-mail ccscomplaints@decal.ga.gov.