GUILTY FL - Myles Hill, 3, dies in hot day care van, Orlando, 7 Aug 2017 *Arrest*

[Niner]

Judge orders full hearing in Orlando day care van death

ORLANDO, Fla. - A competency hearing was held Thursday (9/20) for a former day care worker who is accused of leaving a toddler in a hot van, resulting in his death.
[.....]
The state said Thursday that a doctor determined that St. Charles is competent to stand trial, but the defense said it has a couple doctors who believe differently.

The judge ordered a full hearing on the issue before making a final ruling, but a date has not yet been set.
[.....]
After St. Charles' arrest, her competency was called into question by the defense. According to court records, St. Charles underwent a mental health evaluation in May, and in June a judge appointed experts to determine her sanity.

 

[YESorNO]

@Niner

Woman accused of leaving child in hot day care van to stand trial

Nov 20, 2018

"ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - The woman accused of manslaughter for the death of a 3-year-old left in a hot day care van in 2017 will stand trial.

Deborah St. Charles underwent two psychiatric or psychological evaluations to see if she was competent to stand trial, according to court records....

During a hearing in September, her legal team argued she was not competent to stand trial due to mental illness, but during a hearing Tuesday, the judge agreed with the state.

A trial date was set for March...."

Woman accused of leaving child in hot day care van to stand trial

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[Niner]

Thanks YEsorNO! Always wonder 'why' the articles never give a date just a month....

 

[mistivon]

Here you go @Niner

3/25/2019 HEARING - Trial - Jordan, John E
3/12/2019 HEARING - Pre-Trial Conference - Jordan, John E

https://myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com/CaseDetails?caseId=10260086&caseIdEnc=zJI3K5KGgOC1NTWBSxmZMx5MbY/znIE76MGVuCg7zxU3Le+lSpYJP5ZinaI1v6QGothYWKl+Vj55tD6HhRSeaUz51Q7CsQLQl0aCTnTLGt8=

Eta: under stcharles all one word as last name

 

[Niner]

Thanks a bunch mistivon!

 

[YESorNO]

Settlement reached in death of toddler left in hot day care van
Terms of settlement not disclosed

December 24, 2018

"...Late last week, a settlement was reached in a civil suit filed by Hill’s family against St. Charles and Little Miracles owner Audrey Thornton. Details of the agreement, however, were not made public.

Prosecutors charged St. Charles with aggravated manslaughter in Hill's death. After a series of mental competency hearings last fall, her trial is scheduled to begin in March...."

Settlement reached in death of toddler left in hot day care van
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[Niner]

Tuesday, March 12th:
*Final Pretrial Hearing (@ 8:30am ET) - FL - Myles Hill (3) (Aug. 7, 2017, Orlando) - Deborah Denise St. Charles (51) (Day care driver) - charged w/aggravated manslaughter of a child; not an approved driver for day care center. Plead not guilty. Bail @ $30,000. Bail was reduced to $2500. Released on bond.
Trial was supposed to start 4/30/18 moved to 3/25/19.
9/20/18 Update: Had Competency hearing. One doctor says she is competent to stand trial, but defense doctors say no. Judge orders a full hearing.
11/20/18: Had Competency hearing on 11/20 & is competent to stand trial. Final pretrial conference on 3/12 & trial set for 3/25 to last 3 weeks.
12/17/18: A settlement was reached in a civil suit filed by Hill’s family against St. Charles and Little Miracles owner Audrey Thornton. Details of the agreement, however, were not made public.

 

[YESorNO]

Suspect in child's hot van death says she didn't see toddler go into day care during questioning (with clip)

Mar 13, 2019

"ORLANDO, Fla. —
WESH 2 Investigates has obtained the audio recordings of police questioning the day care worker accused of leaving a 3-year-old boy in a hot van for 12 hours.

Orlando police said escaping the Little Miracles Daycare van in August 2017 was impossible for Myles Hill.

The driver of the van, Deborah St. Charles, is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child for his death.

"In the back was Myles, straight behind me," St. Charles told a detective.

"So Myles was directly behind you? And is he in a booster seat or chair? " the detective asked.

"He's not in a booster seat," St. Charles replied.

The audio recording, obtained exclusively by WESH 2 Investigates, contains the police interview of St. Charles just hours after Hill's death.

She said when she dropped him and others off that morning, it was busy and chaotic, with students rushing in....

St. Charles was supposed to be tried in a couple of weeks, but following a hearing Tuesday, the trial was moved to June."

Suspect in child's hot van death says she didn't see toddler go into day care during questioning
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[Niner]

Monday, March 25th:
*Trial was set to begin-cancelled (@ 9am ET) - FL - Myles Hill (3) (Aug. 7, 2017, Orlando) - Deborah Denise St. Charles (51) (Day care driver) - charged w/aggravated manslaughter of a child; not an approved driver for day care center. Plead not guilty. Bail @ $30,000. Bail was reduced to $2500. Released on bond.
Trial was set for 3/25 to last 3 weeks.
12/17/18: A settlement was reached in a civil suit filed by Hill’s family against St. Charles and Little Miracles owner Audrey Thornton. Details of the agreement, however, were not made public.
3/13/19 Update: Trial was cancelled, moved to June, no date as of 3/24.

 

[YESorNO]

Bills move forward that would help prevent children from being left behind in hot vehicles (with clip)

Apr 3, 2019

"Following a series of WESH 2 Investigates reports, two local lawmakers are making headway on bills that would help prevent children from being left behind in dangerously hot vehicles.

A few more hurdles could be cleared in the next week, but there is still a challenging road ahead.

Sensing that some senators might vote against it, just a short while ago, Democratic Orlando State Senator Linda Stewart "temporarily postponed" a vote on her bill to try to help its chances of passage.

All of this comes on the heels of the 2017 death of 3-year-old Myles Hill....

Under Stewart's bill, SB 94, all day care centers in Florida would be required to install alarms that would force them to check all seating areas to make sure no child is left behind...."

Bills move forward that would help prevent children from being left behind in hot vehicles

 

[Niner]

Date Hearing Time Location Pages Doc
6/3/2019 Trial - Jordan, John E 9:00 AM Room 9-A On The 9th Floor

5/21/2019 Pre-Trial Conference - Jordan, John E 8:30 AM Room 9-A On The 9th Floor

link: https://myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com/...avIFivTDlmtzvF5mHWvQ88vPO2mVtyi07wZLqT81H9bM=

 

[YESorNO]

Hadas Brown‏Verified account @HadasBrownWESH Mar 12
NEW: The trial for Deborah St. Charles has been pushed back again. St. Charles is accused of leaving three-year-old Myles Hill in a hot daycare van in August of 2017, after failing to do a headcount. He died. Trial was supposed to be late March - now early June.
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Defense for woman accused of leaving 3-year-old in day care van wants some evidence thrown out (with clip)

May 6, 2019

"ORLANDO, Fla. - Defense attorneys for the woman accused of leaving 3-year-old Myles Hill in the back of a hot day care van in 2017 want evidence of detectives demonstrating how the van’s locks worked thrown out. ...

Orlando police also tested the temperature in the van over several hours and found it got to more than 130 degrees.
St. Charles’s attorney wants that “experiment” kept out of trial as well, since there is no dispute how Hill died and the van was given back to the day care and then disposed of. ..."

Defense for woman accused of leaving 3-year-old in day care van wants some evidence thrown out

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, May 21st:
*Pretrial Hearing (@ 8:30am ET) - FL - Myles Hill (3) (Aug. 7, 2017, Orlando) - Deborah Denise St. Charles (51) (Day care driver) - charged w/aggravated manslaughter of a child; not an approved driver for day care center. Plead not guilty. Bail @ $30,000. Bail was reduced to $2500. Released on bond.
Trial set for 3/25 to last 3 weeks, moved to June 3, 2019.
12/17/18: A settlement was reached in a civil suit filed by Hill’s family against St. Charles and Little Miracles owner Audrey Thornton. Details of the agreement, however, were not made public.
3/13/19 Update: Trial was cancelled, moved to June 3. Pretrial hearing on 5/21.

 

[YESorNO]

Orange County Judge grants motion to toss video during Deborah St. Charles' hearing (with clip)
St. Charles is due back in court July 30 for pretrial hearing

May 23, 2019

"ORLANDO, Fla. - A woman charged in the death of a boy left in a hot day care van in Orlando appeared in court Thursday...

Prosecutors wanted to show a video at trial of an Orlando police officer demonstrating how difficult it would have been for Myles to unlock the door and get out of the van.

St. Charles' defense, however, wanted the video thrown out. The judge agreed with the defense.

St. Charles’ lawyer asked the judge to additionally toss a second motion, which he called a “temperature experiment,” saying it has no value and is irrelevant because it’s known the child passed away on a hot day in August.

Judge Jordan agreed with the defense, stating a “temperature experiment” is irrelevant. However, he did give the state the option to offer a “temperature experiment” during St. Charles’ trial.

The defense lawyer for St. Charles told the judge they are not prepared to present a case next month for her set trial.

St. Charles is set to be back in court July 30 for a pretrial hearing."

Orange County Judge grants motion to toss video during Deborah St. Charles' hearing
---

Ezzy Castro‏Verified account @EzzyCastro 12h12 hours ago
Deborah St. Charles spoke to us following her hearing this morning saying “I would never do nothing like this on purpose.” @news6wkmg

(video clip: Ezzy Castro on Twitter )

 

[Niner]

From the court site - it looks like 6/3 is hearing also - but I know the article above says next one is 7/30. I'll put her on 6/3 JUST in case there is a hearing.

Docket:
Date Description Pages Doc Request
Doc
8/12/2019 HEARING - Trial - Jordan, John E

7/30/2019 HEARING - Pre-Trial Conference - Jordan, John E

6/3/2019 HEARING - Trial - Jordan, John E

5/23/2019 Per the Court:
Comments: Motion in Limine to Exclude Video with Door Lock testing is hereby granted. Motion in Limine to Exclude State's Experiment RE: Temperatures of the Van is hereby granted. The parties stipulate that the child died from heat exposure by being left in the van on a hot august day. Defense Motion for Statement of Particulars is hereby denied.

5/23/2019 Defense Motion to Continue
Comments: Granted. Speedy Trial was Previously Waived.

5/23/2019 Court Minutes
5/23/2019 HEARING - Motion - Jordan, John E (Actual: Jordan, John E)


Date Hearing Time Location Pages Doc
8/12/2019 Trial - Jordan, John E 9:00 AM Room 9-A On The 9th Floor

7/30/2019 Pre-Trial Conference - Jordan, John E 8:30 AM Room 9-A On The 9th Floor

6/3/2019 Hearing - Jordan, John E 9:00 AM Room 9-A On The 9th Floor


link: https://myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com/...Z+CkaYWJCNxTWrKrEUDmQgxoImps1xfVz4q8b9GB/MT4=

 

[Niner]

Monday, June 3rd:
*Pretrial Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL - Myles Hill (3) (Aug. 7, 2017, Orlando) - Deborah Denise St. Charles (51) (Day care driver) - charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child; not an approved driver for day care center. Plead not guilty. Bail @ $30,000. Bail was reduced to $2500. Released on bond.
Trial set for 3/25 to last 3 weeks, moved to June 3, 2019, and then moved to 8/12/19.
12/17/18: A settlement was reached in a civil suit filed by Hill’s family against St. Charles and Little Miracles owner Audrey Thornton. Details of the agreement, however, were not made public.
3/13/19 Update: Trial was cancelled, moved to June 3. Pretrial hearing on 5/21. 5/21/19: Motion to continue-granted; speedy trial previously waived. Motion in Limine to Exclude Video with Door Lock testing is hereby granted. Motion in Limine to Exclude State's Experiment RE: Temperatures of the Van is hereby granted. Next pretrial hearing 6/3, pretrial conference on 7/30, trial set for 8/12.

 

[Niner]

Date Description Pages Doc Request
Doc
8/12/2019 @9:30 HEARING - Trial - Jordan, John E

7/30/2019@ 8:30am HEARING - Pre-Trial Conference - Jordan, John E

6/3/2019 HEARING - Trial - Jordan, John E

link: https://myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com/...KdJwVXc8ZtnEPmy3+EpitFYumtFzPY1crz8fH5njdRnI=

 

[YESorNO]

Attorneys for woman accused of 3-year-old's hot car death may use ‘autopilot' for defense (with clip)

Jul 8, 2019

"ORLANDO, Fla. - A list of defense experts is giving an inside look at how attorneys for former Orlando day care worker Deborah St. Charles may be planning to defend herself in the death of a 3-year-old in a hot vehicle....

An expert who has testified in court cases like this before, believes people just lose awareness that children are even in the car.

Some of his writings show he believes people get in such a routine, their brains go into autopilot and they might continue on to work or somewhere else, thinking everything is normal....

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said that's why the defense plans to call Dr. David Diamond as an expert witness in the case.

“What the defense is trying to show is, when this defendant left the child in the van, it wasn't on the basis of reckless disregard for human life,” said Sheaffer.

Diamond is a psychology professor at the University of South Florida, who has studied the issue of children left in hot cars for the past 15 years....

She says Diamond believes parents and caretakers simply lose awareness there's a child in the car and their brains go into autopilot while they are driving.

He cites four main factors -- a stressful or highly distracting experience before or during the drive, sleep deprivation, a change in the driving route that day and an unusually quiet or sleeping child...."

Attorneys for woman accused of 3-year-old's hot car death may use ‘autopilot' for defense

 

[katydid23]

Attorneys for woman accused of 3-year-old's hot car death may use ‘autopilot' for defense (with clip)

Jul 8, 2019

"ORLANDO, Fla. - A list of defense experts is giving an inside look at how attorneys for former Orlando day care worker Deborah St. Charles may be planning to defend herself in the death of a 3-year-old in a hot vehicle....

An expert who has testified in court cases like this before, believes people just lose awareness that children are even in the car.

Some of his writings show he believes people get in such a routine, their brains go into autopilot and they might continue on to work or somewhere else, thinking everything is normal....

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said that's why the defense plans to call Dr. David Diamond as an expert witness in the case.

“What the defense is trying to show is, when this defendant left the child in the van, it wasn't on the basis of reckless disregard for human life,” said Sheaffer.

Diamond is a psychology professor at the University of South Florida, who has studied the issue of children left in hot cars for the past 15 years....

She says Diamond believes parents and caretakers simply lose awareness there's a child in the car and their brains go into autopilot while they are driving.

He cites four main factors -- a stressful or highly distracting experience before or during the drive, sleep deprivation, a change in the driving route that day and an unusually quiet or sleeping child...."

Attorneys for woman accused of 3-year-old's hot car death may use ‘autopilot' for defense

Dr Diamond is not going to be able to save this DayCare Van driver from prison.

We researched Dr Diamond during the Ross Harris trial in Atlanta. Everyone said Dr Diamond was going to come in and save the day for Harris like he has done for many others. But it only works when the defendants fit the parameters of his theory.

Diamond didn't even testify at the Harris trial, even though he was discussed in the OS, mostly because Harris didn't fit the criteria of Diamond's theory.

I don't think you can fit a DayCare Van Driver into that theory either. Who, as a paid professional driver of children, and doesn't look in the van before locking up, to make sure all the children are out?

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, July 30th:
*Pretrial Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL - Myles Hill (3) (Aug. 7, 2017, Orlando) - Deborah Denise St. Charles (51) (Day care driver) - charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child; not an approved driver for day care center. Plead not guilty. Bail @ $30,000. Bail was reduced to $2500. Released on bond.
Trial set for 3/25 to last 3 weeks, moved to June 3, 2019, and then moved to 8/12/19.
12/17/18: A settlement was reached in a civil suit filed by Hill’s family against St. Charles and Little Miracles owner Audrey Thornton. Details of the agreement, however, were not made public.
3/13/19 Update: Trial was cancelled, moved to June 3. Pretrial hearing on 5/21. 5/21/19: Motion to continue-granted; speedy trial previously waived. Motion in Limine to Exclude Video with Door Lock testing is hereby granted. Motion in Limine to Exclude State's Experiment RE: Temperatures of the Van is hereby granted. Next pretrial hearing 6/3, pretrial conference on 7/30, trial set for 8/12.