Kentucky Grandmother Doctor Will Face No Charges After 10-Month-Old Granddaughter Dies in Hot Car

A Kentucky grandmother whose 10-month-old granddaughter died after being left inside a hot car for hours will not face criminal charges. A grand jury declined to indict the doctor following an investigation into the baby’s death, leaving the grieving family to cope with an unimaginable loss.

The child, Scottie Crowell, died on August 13, 2026, in Madisonville, Kentucky. Police said her grandmother, Dr. Stacey Fazenbaker, had picked her up that morning and was supposed to take her to daycare before heading to work.

Instead, Fazenbaker drove to Owensboro Health MultiCare, where she worked as a doctor, and went inside with Scottie still in the back seat.

According to investigators, the grandmother arrived at work at approximately 8 a.m. The baby remained in the vehicle until around 4 p.m., when Fazenbaker was alerted that Scottie had never arrived at daycare.

Police said the child’s father had gone to collect her from daycare and discovered she was not there. He contacted his wife, who then called her mother. Fazenbaker reportedly rushed outside with coworkers and found the infant still inside the car.

Emergency responders were called and attempted to save the baby, but she could not be revived.

The tragedy unfolded during extremely hot weather. The outdoor temperature reportedly reached 95 degrees, while the temperature inside the vehicle was estimated to have climbed as high as 115 degrees.

Following a months-long investigation, Madisonville police presented their findings to a grand jury. On October 27, jurors returned a “no true bill,” meaning they declined to issue an indictment against Fazenbaker.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Hannah Kington-Jarvis said the investigation was thorough and objective. She confirmed that Scottie’s parents had been consulted during the investigation and before the case was presented to the grand jury.

In a statement, the prosecutor asked the public to keep the child’s parents and relatives in their thoughts as they continue to grieve.

The decision means Fazenbaker will not face criminal charges in connection with her granddaughter’s death. However, the grand jury’s decision does not change the circumstances of the tragedy or the loss suffered by Scottie’s family.

Scottie’s death is another devastating reminder of how quickly temperatures inside a parked vehicle can become dangerous, even when a child is left there unintentionally.