A teen woman is facing an aggravated manslaughter charge in the death of a 4-year-old Sunrise boy who died after he was found unconscious in her hot car last month, authorities said Thursday.
Paris Ward, 19, is facing a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child in the Aug. 1 death of Jordan Coleman, according to an arrest warrant filed in Broward County.
Coleman had been in the care of 3C's Academy in Sunrise at the time of his death.
Jail records showed Ward was arrested Wednesday. In a court hearing Thursday, Broward Circuit Judge John Hurley set her bond at $10,000. Ward, who appeared on video from the North Broward Bureau, cried during the hearing.
Ward posted bond and was released hours after the hearing.
Ward will have to wear an ankle monitor, won't be allowed to leave the tri-county area and won't be permitted to work in day care, babysit or take care of any children upon her release, Hurley ordered.
Ward's attorney, Derek Lewis, had argued for her release without bond, saying she has no criminal record and is not a danger to the public.
During Thursday's hearing, Lewis said Ward was never officially an employee of 3C's. Lewis declined to comment after the hearing.
Authorities say Coleman was pulled from a Toyota Sequoia at the Versailles Gardens apartment complex in Tamarac after he was left unattended for several hours in the sweltering sun.
Tamarac Fire Rescue paramedics attempted to revive him, but the 4-year-old was pronounced dead at Broward Health Coral Springs hospital, authorities said.
During Thursday's hearing, Hurley said a doctor who measured the body temperature of Coleman said it was 108 degrees.
Last month, Coleman's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against 3C's, claiming negligence.
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A woman who answered the phone at 3C's Thursday referred all questions to her lawyer, but said she didn't know the attorney's name.
“What my clients would like is for the Broward Sheriff's department, through its detectives, to do a complete investigation and to bring to justice any party that was responsible for Jordan Coleman's death. That simple,” said Stuart Grossman, an attorney for Coleman's family.
According to the lawsuit, the operator of the day care had Ward drive Coleman and seven other children to the apartment complex because she had too many children to care for that day and was afraid inspectors were coming to the center.
On the way to the complex, Coleman fell asleep and was left in the SUV while the other kids were taken to an apartment belonging to the operator's friend.
After several hours, Coleman's 5-year-old cousin asked where he was and it was discovered the boy had been left in the car, the lawsuit claims.
According to the lawsuit, Coleman sustained hyperthermia and died as a result of the high temperatures inside the car.
The day care center has been closed pending an investigation.
