Local News
6-Year-Old Nonverbal Autistic Girl Winter Skyy Jones Dies After Being Left on Daycare Bus in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 6-year-old girl died Thursday after her family said she was allegedly left inside a daycare bus for hours after being transported from a Cordova daycare to Macon-Hall Elementary School.
The child was identified by her family as Winter Skyy Jones, a nonverbal autistic girl whose father, Bryan Jones, said she should have been taken off the bus when it arrived at the school.
According to her family, Winter was transported by a bus operated by Kid University, a daycare in the Memphis area. Her father said the bus was supposed to take her from the daycare to Macon-Hall Elementary and return her afterward.
Family members said Winter was never removed from the bus after it arrived at the school.
Her uncle, Christopher Jones, said the child was only discovered when employees returned to the bus later while preparing to pick up students from school.
“They never even made it into the school,” Christopher said, describing the family’s understanding of what happened.
Memphis police confirmed that officers responded at approximately 3:23 p.m. to an address on Walnut Knoll, where a female juvenile was found in need of medical assistance.
The girl was transported to a hospital in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead.
Winter’s father said his daughter died after her body temperature reached approximately 109 degrees.
Authorities have not publicly released an official cause or manner of death, and the circumstances surrounding the child’s death remain under investigation.
Winter’s family described the tragedy as especially devastating because she was nonverbal and autistic.
Her uncle said Winter was unable to communicate that she had been left on the bus or call attention to her situation.
“She couldn’t advocate for herself,” Christopher said, emphasizing that the child could not simply tell someone she was still inside the vehicle.
Christopher, who is also the father of a nonverbal autistic child, said he could only imagine how frightening and dangerous the conditions inside the bus would have been.
On Thursday evening, police crime scene tape was visible across Walnut Knoll, where a small bus marked Kid University was parked outside the daycare.
A person who answered the telephone at the daycare reportedly declined to provide information and ended the call.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools confirmed that officials were aware of the incident and were looking into what happened.
The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services is also involved in the investigation into the 6-year-old’s death.
Shabnam Manhas, who works at a business across from Kid University, said she heard what sounded like screaming coming from the daycare Thursday.
Manhas said she saw a woman on the ground who appeared to be crying and was extremely distressed. She said people nearby attempted to determine what had happened and help the woman.
Parents with children enrolled at Kid University also expressed shock and sadness after learning about the incident.
Breanna Watts, whose child attends the daycare, said she was saddened by the death and expressed sympathy for Winter’s family.
Winter’s death comes amid renewed concerns about children being left unattended in daycare vehicles.
A similar tragedy occurred in Memphis in 2022, when an infant died after being left inside a hot vehicle outside a daycare. Another child died after being left in a daycare van in West Memphis in 2017.
The latest incident is now being investigated by multiple authorities.
Temperatures in Memphis were forecast to reach approximately 99 degrees Fahrenheit Thursday, raising additional concerns about the dangers of leaving children inside vehicles during extreme heat.
The investigation into Winter Skyy Jones’ death remains ongoing. Authorities have not announced any charges or publicly determined who may have been responsible for leaving the child on the bus.
Additional information is expected as investigators with Memphis police, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services and other agencies continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Local News
Megan Mazzoleni, 29, Killed in Head-On Crash on Edwards Ridge Road in Tuscarawas County, Ohio
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, Ohio — A devastating head-on collision in Rush Township claimed the life of 29-year-old Megan Mazzoleni of Gnadenhutten and left three other people, including two young children, needing emergency medical care.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:52 a.m. on November 2 along Edwards Ridge Road, south of Ridge Road. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the collision involved a Ford Focus and a Kia Telluride traveling in opposite directions.
The tragic incident has left families facing an unimaginable loss while the injured victims receive medical attention.
According to the Highway Patrol, Mazzoleni was driving southbound in a Ford Focus with a 6-year-old boy seated in the back. The child was reportedly properly secured with a seat belt.
At the same time, 43-year-old Shanon Matsel of Port Washington was traveling northbound in a Kia Telluride. A second 6-year-old boy was riding in the back seat of her vehicle and was also properly restrained.
Investigators reported that the Ford Focus traveled left of center and struck the Kia Telluride head-on.
The collision caused severe damage and left occupants requiring assistance from emergency crews.
Mazzoleni was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Authorities reported that she became trapped inside the vehicle and had to be extricated by rescue personnel.
Despite the emergency response, she suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Tuscarawas County Coroner.
Her death at just 29 years old is a heartbreaking loss for her family, friends and everyone who knew her. A life that held so much possibility was cut short in a sudden and devastating collision.
Matsel, who was wearing a seat belt, also had to be extricated from her vehicle by emergency responders.
She was transported to Union Hospital by Uhrichsville EMS for medical treatment. Further details about the severity of her injuries were not provided in the available report.
Both 6-year-old boys involved in the crash were also transported for emergency medical care. Due to the seriousness of the situation, medical helicopters flew the children to Akron Children’s Hospital.
The children had reportedly been properly secured in their respective vehicles. Their conditions have not been disclosed in the information provided.
Several emergency and support agencies responded to the crash, including the Arrowhead and Uhrichsville fire departments, emergency medical personnel, towing crews and the Tuscarawas County Coroner’s Office.
Their response involved assisting the trapped occupants, providing medical care and managing the aftermath of the collision.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported that drugs and alcohol are not suspected as contributing factors in the crash.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.
According to the preliminary information, the Ford Focus crossed left of center before striking the Kia Telluride. Authorities have not provided additional details about what caused the vehicle to leave its lane.
The loss of Megan Mazzoleni is a painful reminder of how quickly a routine morning can turn into a life-changing tragedy.
At just 29, she had so much life ahead of her. Her sudden death has left loved ones grieving and facing a future without someone who mattered deeply to them.
Thoughts and prayers are also with Shanon Matsel and the two young boys as they receive medical care and begin the difficult process of recovery.
May Megan Mazzoleni rest in eternal peace. May her family and friends find strength and comfort during this heartbreaking time, and may Shanon and both children make a full recovery.