Daycare Worker Charged In 2018 Death Of Toddler Left In Hot Van

HOUSTON, TX — A former daycare center bus driver who was indicted July 19 for causing the death of 3-year-old Raymond Pryer last year, was arrested Tuesday by Houston Police, according to the Harris County DA's Office.

Maurice Mitchell, 62, is charged with injury to a child by recklessly causing serious bodily injury or death, which is a second-degree felony.

The indictment by a Harris County grand jury came exactly a year to the day that Pryer died inside a locked daycare van, where police said temperatures had exceeded 113 degrees.

Mitchell, who was employed as a driver for Discovering Me Academy, is accused of leaving Pryer on a daycare bus for several hours after returning from a field trip to Doss Park earlier that afternoon, prosecutors said.

READ ALSO:

• Child, 3, Left In Hot Daycare Van For Hours Dies
• Death Of Toddler In Hot Daycare Van Is Ruled A Homicide

According to the indictment, Mitchell allegedly disengaged a passenger safety alarm on the daycare van, which was to safeguard young passengers from being left behind.

Prosecutors said Mitchell also failed to perform a visual inspection of the bus to ensure no children were still onboard.

"As the summer heat intensifies, we should honor R.J.’s memory by ensuring no more children are left in hot vehicles," Assistant District Attorney Michele Oncken said. "Remember that the Texas can be deadly."

The case is being prosecuted by the Child Fatality Unit of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and was investigated by Houston Police Dept.’s Crimes Against Children Unit.

Send your news tips and story ideas to bryan.kirk@patch.com