Tiffany Hedrick, the Director of Poppy's Playhouse 2, has been indicted on Murder in the 2nd, Armed Criminal Action and Abuse or Neglect of a Child Resulting in Death according to a statement from Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Trisha Sefanski.
According to the grand jury indictment, three-year-old Conrad ashcraft died by asphyxiation when Hedrick allegedly covered him with a weighted blanket immobilizing him.
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Trisha Stefanski is the special prosecutor in this case on behalf of St. Francois County. She confirmed to KMOX the case remains open.
A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the father, includes many of the same allegatrions against Hedrick, including using an 18 lb weighted blanket to restrain Ashcraft. It also alleges Hedrick pinned Ashcraft down with her legs. Ashcraft was found dead when a parent came to pick him up.
There are two wrongful death lawsuits against Hedrick, the daycare, Poppy’s Playhouse 2, and its owner, one filed by each of Ashcraft’s parents. On the same day Hedrick was charged, the attorney representing Poppy’s Playhouse and its owner in both lawsuits filed to withdraw, claiming in his filing the owner has stopped communicating with him. Hedrick is not the owner, we are not naming her since she has not been criminally charged.
Hedrick has been arrested by St. Francois County Sheriff's Department according to a statement from their office. She is due in court Friday afternoon at 3:00 in St. Francois County.