A woman in Tennessee was running an illegal day care out of her home at a Bellevue apartment complex where a 3-month-old baby was found dead and six other children left unattended. The woman, Anne Jordan, who also goes by Annie Clark, per WKRN, has been charged with six counts of child endangerment, according to Local 3 News. Jordan reportedly left the six children alone with the intent of committing suicide after she realized the 3-month-old was no longer breathing, People reported.
The baby's mother and another parent discovered the 3-month-old unconscious as well as six other children who had been left unattended. Jordan was seen sobbing in the Davidson County Courtroom on July 12, as she had to face the parents of those children.
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Several parents returned to the home day care and found several children unattended, with the owner nowhere in sight.
The incident at Jordan’s unlicensed home day care occurred on April 10 of this year, per Local 3 News. One of the parents testified in court on July 12, about what they saw that day.
Martin Ryan went to the Avana Lexington Apartments in Bellevue, only to discover another mom waiting outside the unlocked door. They walked into a disturbing scene, the news outlet reported. Ryan said there was a “crying baby in the high chair, there was another baby in a bouncy seat in the living room, there were two other babies — a little under one year — lying under an activity gym awake in the living room,” Local 3 News reported.
He then went to check all the rooms looking for Jordan, who was not present at the residence, and found his oldest daughter napping, as well as another female sleeping in a separate room. But then the other mother appeared with her 3-month-old son, who was not breathing. The parents called 911, the news outlet reported.
The day care owner reportedly said she had left the location to 'harm' herself.
Ryan said he spoke with Jordan several days after the incident in April. “She ‘broke’ and she decided that if this child could no longer be alive that she could no longer be alive and she decided to leave the location to harm herself,” he said, according to Local 3 News.
The same day the death occurred, Jordan was found with wounds that were self-inflicted, according to People. She was reportedly discovered by hikers at Harpeth River State Park with cuts on her arms, per WKRN.
The baby’s cause of death is undetermined.
Christopher Beery, a detective with Metro Nashville Police, shared new information about the autopsy results for the baby.
“My understanding after speaking with the medical examiner is they couldn’t determine a cause of death,” Beery said, according to Local 3 News. Beery also reportedly confirmed that toxicology results came up negative.
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The former day care owner faces several charges.
Jordan initially received a misdemeanor, with six counts of child neglect, per Local 3 News. But this past Wednesday, it was changed by the judge to a felony and six counts of aggravated child endangerment, the news outlet. Beery said it is undetermined whether Jordan will face homicide charges.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
