The parents of a 4-year-old Sunrise boy who died after he was found unconscious in a hot SUV owned by a day care operator's daughter filed a wrongful death lawsuit Friday against the center.
Fantasia Goldson and Latroy Coleman, the parents of Jordan Coleman, filed the lawsuit against 3C's Day Academy claiming negligence in the young boy's death last week at a Tamarac apartment complex.
The owner of 3C's Day Academy, 42-year-old Cecily Roberts, has been cited three times since 2010 for running an over-capacity facility and twice for leaving infants and toddler in the care of her daughter, who doesn't meet the age requirement for supervising a child-care center, according to a Miami Herald report.
Calls to Roberts' listed number were referred to an attorney who could not immediately be reached for comment.
Authorities say Coleman was pulled from a Toyota Sequoia at the Versailles Gardens apartment complex the afternoon of August 1 after he was left unattended. Tamarac Fire Rescue paramedics attempted to revive him, but the 4-year-old was pronounced dead at Broward Health Coral Springs hospital, authorities said.
Day Care Workers Plead Guilty in Tot's Death
According to the lawsuit, the operator of the day care had her 18-year-old daughter drive Coleman and seven other children to the apartment complex because she had too many children to care for that day and was afraid inspectors were coming to the center.
On the way to the complex, Coleman fell asleep and was left in the SUV while the daughter took the other kids to an apartment belonging to the operator's friend.
After several hours, Coleman's 5-year-old cousin asked where he was and it was discovered the boy had been left in the car, the lawsuit claims.
According to the lawsuit, Coleman sustained hyperthermia and died as a result of the high temperatures inside the car. The Broward Sheriff's Office said last week that an autopsy was conducted, but the cause and manner of Jordan's death have not been determined.
5-Year-Old Forgotten on School Bus for Hours
On Friday, the BSO said no arrests have been made in the case. The Broward State Attorney's Office said they're still investigating the death. The day care center has been closed pending an investigation.
"It's just tragic, you know, to not come home and see your son, to hear him say 'hey mom' or get that last kiss before he leaves," Goldson said at a news conference Friday. "It's real heartbreaking."
The viewing for Coleman will take place Friday at Elijah Bell Funeral Home in Lauderdale Lakes from 5-9 p.m. The funeral will be held Saturday at First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale at noon.
