Florida – In a shocking case in Florida that caught nationwide attention, a 58-year-old woman, identified as Tracey N., has been sentenced to five years in prison for the death of her 7-month-old granddaughter, identified as Uriel S. This sentencing marks the second tragic incident under Tracey’s care, following the earlier drowning of another grandchild.
On a fateful day in November 2022, Tracey faced the unimaginable for the second time in less than a year. Her infant granddaughter, Uriel, succumbed to hyperthermia after being left in a hot car for several hours. Tracey, who had taken over the care of her granddaughter, forgot the baby in the vehicle after returning home from a lunch outing. Despite the temperature reaching into the 90s that afternoon, Uriel was not removed from the car until nearly three hours later, leading to fatal consequences. This heart-wrenching incident occurred less than a year after another grandchild, 16-month-old Ezra S., tragically drowned after wandering into a pond while under Tracey’s supervision. This series of events raised serious questions about the grandmother’s capability and attention to the children in her care.
During the trial, the depth of the family’s grief and conflict became apparent. Tracey’s daughter, Kaila S., and her husband, Drew S., testified against Tracey, expressing their profound loss and conflicted emotions. “I still love you. I hate this,” Kaila said in court, addressing her mother through tears. “I hate that I have to choose, but you know I had to. But it doesn’t change my heart.” Drew’s testimony highlighted the couple’s preventative measures to protect Uriel after their first child’s death, underscoring the unimaginable pain of losing not one but two children. “She’s done this twice and the fact that we’re debating whether she deserves jail time is just insane to me,” he remarked during the sentencing.
The court’s decision came after a contentious debate over Tracey’s culpability and state of mind. In her defense, Tracey claimed to have been overwhelmed and inadvertently negligent. “I literally forgot for a long period of time,” she stated, suggesting that her actions were not intentional but rather the result of a tragic oversight. However, the prosecution and ultimately the judge found little room for leniency, citing a pattern of negligence that led to the second death under her care. Judge Rafool, presiding over the case, pointed out the lack of remorse from Tracey, focusing instead on her expressions of personal sorrow and loss. “Uriel is not an isolated incident. I do not believe she is showing remorse; I believe she is showing sorrow,” Judge Rafool expressed before delivering the sentence.
Tracey was handed the maximum sentence of five years in prison, reflecting the gravity of the offenses and the community’s need for closure and safety. “I have made a final determination here. I am not putting people on probation to be walking around this community to rehash an issue or for something to come up. I have sentenced her to five years in prison. I want this community to move on,” the judge declared.
The sentencing does not mark the end of grief for the family but opens a path to begin the difficult process of healing. “Five years is really a drop in the bucket. We will spend the rest of our lives – our son will grow up without his brother and sister. Five years to me, is it justice? No, not really. But it’s what we could have gotten,” Drew reflected somberly. This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities and immense trust placed in the hands of those who care for the young and vulnerable. As the Schock family attempts to move forward, the memories of Uriel and Ezra will undoubtedly shape their paths and advocacy for child safety in memory of their lost children.
