Daycare Van Driver Charged With Aggravated Manslaughter In Death Of 2-Year-Old Left In Hot Vehicle

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The Broward Sheriff's Office says Engrid Thurston turned off the safety alarm on the daycare van carrying 2-year-old Noah Sneed and other children when they arrived at Ceressa's daycare in Oakland Park on July 29.

County regulations say a van driver is supposed to inspect each seat before shutting off that alarm but it appears that did not happen in this case. Noah was left on the van and stayed in there for hours until his body was discovered. The Medical Examiner's Office determined he died from hypothermia.

On Friday, BSO arrested Thurston and charged her with aggravated manslaughter in Sneed's death.

Tony Bell is Noah's father. He's pleased Thurston was arrested.

"I'm pleased I'm still trying to make sure she do some time, though," he said. "Some hard time,"

In the days after Sneed died his mother and family members and friends held vigils and rallies demanding that those responsible for not protecting the boy be arrested and charged. Investigators searched the van and the business for clues about the boys death. Search warrants indicated that
they took "documents with kids pickup and drop off information" from the vehicle and surveillance video from inside the daycare.

Noah's father is left with a recurring question for Thurston.

"Why you left my son in the van for?" he said.

The daycare is temporarily shut down. Meanwhile, Tony Bell still wants answers and justice.

"They failed big time," he said. "Failed big time."

There are a number of safeguards and layers of protection in place to prevent these types of tragedies. Workers are supposed to keep a checklist of who's on the van and there are supposed to be multiple sweeps of the vehicle by different employees.

The Broward Sheriff's Office says they continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Noah's death.