FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A former employee at a Sunrise day care who was charged in connection with the death of a 4-year-old boy was released from jail.
Paris Ward, 19, was arrested Wednesday and released on bond Thursday night. She was charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child.
"There is ample evidence in the affidavit to support the charge of aggravated manslaughter, ma'am, of the child who was allegedly in your care at a day care center," said Judge John Hurley.
Ward sobbed several times during her bond hearing.
According to the arrest report, on August 1, Ward and another employee took Jordan Coleman, 4, and seven other children to a Tamarac apartment complex, but forgot Coleman in the SUV.
Coleman was found unconscious in the SUV about two-and-a-half hours later, said investigators. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Ward initially lied about how Coleman became unconscious, telling her coworker and a Broward Sheriff's Office homicide detective the boy collapsed while getting into the SUV, according to the arrest report.
A week after his death, Coleman's family filed a wrongful death suit against 3 C's Day Academy. Coleman's family offered no comment on Ward's arrest.
Stuart Grossman, the family's attorney, issued a statement, saying: "The family and I hope that anyone who bears any responsibility for Jordan's death will be brought to justice."
3 C's Day Academy has been closed since the incident. The day care was under investigation after it was cited for capacity requirements, personnel training, background screening, and general safety requirements since 2011.
The judge issued Ward a bond of $10,000. Ward was fitted with an ankle bracelet, per her bond conditions, before she was released..
The Broward State Attorney's Office says its investigation continues.