A Georgia community is in shock after a former day care owner was handed a decades-long prison sentence for the death of a baby in her care.
On Friday, a judge sentenced 48-year-old Amanda Hickey to 35 years in total — with 30 years to be served behind bars and the remaining five on probation — following her conviction in the 2021 death of a 4-month-old infant.
The tragedy unfolded at Hickey’s Little Lovey home day care in Dunwoody. According to court records, the baby boy was found unresponsive in his crib. Despite attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A grand jury indicted Hickey on charges of child abuse and murder. Prosecutors argued that her negligence and mistreatment directly led to the child’s death. During sentencing, the judge called the incident “a preventable and devastating loss that has forever changed a family.”
The baby’s parents gave emotional statements in court, describing their son as “happy, sweet, and loved beyond words,” and saying their lives would never be the same.
Hickey will serve the majority of her sentence in prison, with strict probation terms upon release. The case has reignited debate about safety standards and oversight in home-based child care facilities.