A grand jury in Kentucky has declined to indict a family doctor who accidentally left her 10-month-old granddaughter in a hot car, where the infant died. Jurors found insufficient probable cause to bring charges against 61-year-old Stacey Fazenbaker in the August 13 death of Scottie Gwyn Crowell.
Hopkins County Attorney Hannah Kington-Jarvis announced the decision this week, citing the secrecy laws surrounding grand jury proceedings for the limited information available. The Madisonville Police Department conducted a thorough investigation, and prosecutors presented all relevant evidence before the grand jury. Kington-Jarvis confirmed that the baby's parents, Fazenbaker's daughter Sydni Crowell and her husband Micah Crowell, were consulted during the investigation and requested that the family be kept in thoughts and prayers.
The tragedy unfolded when Fazenbaker, a doctor at Owensboro Health Multicare in Madisonville, was driving to work with Scottie in the backseat. She intended to drop the baby at daycare at 7 a.m. but mistakenly drove to work, forgetting Scottie was in the vehicle. The outside temperature reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit during a heatwave, and the infant remained in the car for eight hours. Tragically, Scottie was not discovered until her father, Micah Crowell, arrived at the daycare around 4 p.m. and learned she had never been dropped off.
Scottie was described as a miracle baby, born via in-vitro fertilization on September 20, 2025, after her parents faced difficulties conceiving a second child. Fazenbaker had relocated to Madisonville a year prior to be closer to her daughter, Sydni, an OB/GYN at a nearby clinic.
Madisonville Police Major Jason McKnight detailed the discovery, stating that upon realizing the error, Fazenbaker and co-workers rushed to the car. Despite immediate efforts by first responders, including paramedics and firefighters who arrived shortly after, it was too late to save the child. While legal precedents allow for charges ranging from neglect to manslaughter in such cases, Fazenbaker will not face indictment.
Nationwide, an average of 37 children die each year from being left in hot cars, with statistics from No Heat Stroke indicating at least 23 such deaths in Kentucky since 1998. The human body, particularly a child's, cannot regulate temperature as efficiently as an adult's, leading to rapid temperature increases in enclosed vehicles. Heatstroke can occur when body temperature reaches 104°F, with critical organ failure at 107°F. Temperatures inside a car can rise dramatically in a short period, even with windows slightly ajar, offering minimal cooling effect.