TAMPA, FL – Tracey Nix, a 67-year-old Florida woman, was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter in the 2022 death of her 7-month-old granddaughter, Uriel Schock. However, she was found guilty of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle for over 15 minutes, resulting in great bodily harm.
In November 2022, Nix had been babysitting Uriel while her daughter attended a hair appointment. After returning from lunch with friends, Nix forgot the infant in the backseat of her car. With outdoor temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit, Uriel succumbed to hyperthermia
This tragedy marked the second time a grandchild died under Nix’s care. In 2021, her 16-month-old grandson, Ezra Schock, drowned while she was babysitting.
During the trial, which began earlier this week, the prosecution presented testimonies from Nix’s daughters, friends, paramedics, law enforcement officials, and a medical examiner. Nix’s daughter, Kaila, emotionally recounted identifying her daughter’s body. The defense called only one witness, Nix’s husband, who had attempted CPR on Uriel without success.
The jury deliberated for approximately two and a half hours before delivering the split verdict. Nix was remanded into custody and is scheduled for sentencing on April 3, facing up to eight years in prison.
According to data from Kids and Car Safety, an average of 38 children die annually in hot cars. Between 1990 and 2023, at least 31% of such cases resulted in convictions, while at least 52% did not.
