A Florida couple is living every parent's worst nightmare after a grandmother was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter following the deaths of two young grandkids in her care less than a year apart.
Former principal Tracey Nix, 65, was found not guilty of aggravated manslaughter in the hyperthermia death of her 7-month-old granddaughter, Uriel Schock. She was convicted on a lesser charge of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle for more than 15 minutes, resulting in great bodily harm.
The judge's ruling excluded any mention of Ezra's drowning during the trial. This decision left the parents feeling like part of the story was being erased.
"One of the things that we have struggled with through this whole case has been the exclusion of my other story, which is my son who drowned in her care," mother Kaila Nix said, as reported by WFLA.
"It does sting," said Drew Schock, the father.
Kaila expressed a mix of emotions after the verdict, saying, "I was relieved to hear that there was going to be accountability and ownership and a conclusion to this part of the story."
The nightmare began back in December 2021, when Kaila and Drew's 16-month-old son, Ezra, drowned in a pond after wandering away while the grandmother, babysitting him at the time, was asleep.
Despite concerns raised by the family, no charges were filed for Ezra's death due to insufficient evidence of culpable negligence.
"In cases involving the accidental drowning of a toddler, Florida appellate courts have stated that a one-time lapse of judgment would not establish culpable negligence of the caretaker....In the 2021 incident, there was insufficient evidence to establish culpable negligence. The 2022 incident is factually distinguishable and charges have been filed, " the State Attorney's Office said in a statement obtained by WFTS.
Less than a year later, on November 22, 2022, grandmother Tracey watched Uriel while Kaila attended a hair appointment. Authorities said Tracey drove home from lunch, parked her car in the yard, and forgot the baby was in the vehicle.
Uriel remained inside with the windows rolled up for hours as outdoor temperatures reached 90 degrees. Tracey was reportedly playing piano when another extended family member arrived.
The affidavit detailed that "all of a sudden," the realization struck her that Uriel had been in the car all afternoon. Her husband, Nun Ney Nix, then initiated CPR.
Kaila and Drew, already mourning the loss of Ezra, were once again plunged into unimaginable grief.
"To think of the last moments of her life as a mother is gut-wrenching," Kaila told WFTS.
"And that it actually just f—ing happened twice. In our lifetime," Drew added.
During the trial, the prosecution argued that Tracey's actions constituted criminal negligence.
Tracey's defense attorney, Bill Fletcher, countered that Uriel's death was a tragic accident and urged jurors not to convict her on the more severe charge.
"Please don't make this terrible situation worse by convicting Tracey Nix of something that she's not guilty of," Fletcher said during closing arguments. Following the verdict, he called the acquittal on the manslaughter charge a "win" but confirmed plans to appeal the lesser conviction.
The deaths of Ezra and Uriel have fractured the family. "The destruction that has come from this process is pretty unfathomable," Kaila said. "My kids are dead, but I've lost a lot more than that."
Fletcher discussed the emotional toll on everyone involved. "The parents are hurting, but the grandparents are hurting too. There's no winners here. Certainly no winners," he said.
Kaila, who grew to trust her mother again after Ezra's death, now carries a guilt no mother should have to endure.
"As her daughter, it kills me to say it. As their mother, I demand it," Kaila said while calling for justice.
Tracey faces up to five years in prison and will be sentenced in April.
Originally published on Latin Times
