The lives of a Florida grandmother’s family have been irrevocably changed by the tragic events that resulted from her actions.
After her 7-month-old granddaughter died after being left in a hot car for hours on a blistering 90-degree day in November 2022, Tracey Nix was convicted in a heartbreaking turn of events.
Following the terrible death of her 16-month-old grandson, who tragically passed away while in her care, she received this punishment.
It’s really hot outside.
As Tracey Nix, 67, a retired Hardee County school principal, dealt with the fallout from a tragic decision that resulted in the death of her 7-month-old granddaughter, Uriel Schock, emotions ran high in a Florida courtroom earlier this month.
In a courtroom in Wauchula, Florida, Nix was informed of her fate on Thursday, April 3. A Polk County jury in January found her guilty of leaving a toddler alone in a car, but cleared her of aggravated manslaughter, a charge that could have resulted in a 30-year jail sentence.
The terrible event took place in November 2022. Uriel’s mother, Kaila Nix-Schock, had requested her mother to monitor the infant when she went to get her hair done that day.
Authorities claim that on a 90-degree day in Wauchula, Florida, Tracey Nix left Uriel alone in an SUV as she went out to lunch with friends. Tragically, the baby died in the intense heat outside with the windows rolled up.
When Tracey Nix returned home from lunch with friends, she just “forgot” about her granddaughter, she told investigators throughout the probe. The affidavit claims that Nix was unaware that Uriel had been left in the car for hours that day until a family member arrived at the house.
According to WFTS, Tracey Nix’s husband found the baby in the SUV’s backseat and attempted CPR, but sadly, Uriel was not able to be saved.
Subsequently, investigators concluded that Uriel died from heat.
Nix spoke up during her sentence even though she declined to testify during the trial.
For a very long time, I genuinely forgot. I’m devastated by what transpired. She stated: “I don’t want anyone to think that I’m making excuses because I’m not.”
The parents remembered standing in the parking lot, trying to understand what had occurred, after they had identified their daughter at the hospital.
“It is heartbreaking to consider the final moments of her life as a mother,” Kaila remarked.
And that, in reality, it just f—ed twice. “During our lifetime,” Drew remarked, referring to Uriel’s father.
It had already occurred.
Because tragedy has struck Uriel Schock’s family twice, causing them to suffer unspeakable pain.
Ezra Schock, then 16 months old, sadly drowned in a pond next to the Nix residence in December 2021. While Nix was sleeping, Ezra had apparently slipped under a fence, opened doors, and wandered off. The agony of that loss persisted even though the State Attorney’s Office stated that there was “insufficient evidence to establish culpable negligence” and no criminal charges were brought in connection with that incident.
During Nix’s sentencing, Uriel’s mother addressed her mother directly while crying:
“I still adore you.” I detest this. You know I had to make a decision, even if I despise it. However, it doesn’t alter my feelings.
Kaila went on, her sorrow exploding:
“What I know is more important than how I feel. What I do know is that my son died by himself after drowning in their pond on a very cold day. And I am aware that my kid passed away by herself on a swelteringly hot afternoon.
In addition, Uriel’s father, Drew Schock, gave a heartbreaking speech outlining the sorrow and shame he and Kaila carried:
As parents, we must deal with the consequences of not thinking about some things for the rest of our lives. She has committed this twice, so I find it absurd that we are discussing whether or not she should be imprisoned.
Family members speak up
The court stuck to his ruling in spite of Nix’s attempts to seek mental health therapy following the incident and his cries of despair. Judge Brandon Rafool underlined the seriousness of the recurring tragedy in imposing the maximum penalty of five years, saying:
“Uriel is not a singular occurrence. It is my opinion that she is displaying grief rather than regret.
The grandma was found guilty of leaving a toddler alone in a car and received a five-year prison sentence. On the more serious allegation of aggravated manslaughter, however, she was found not guilty.
Uriel’s father, Drew Schock, talked to Fox 13 after the sentencing to convey his profound grief over the death of his children and the toll the tragedy would take on his family:
“We intend to live the rest of our lives… My son will spend his entire childhood without either his sister or sibling. Well, five years to me. Is it fair? No, not at all.
Nun Ney Nix, Nix’s husband, defended her by claiming that she had been avoiding social situations and grieving in private. But in reaching its ruling, the court considered the two consecutive defeats that had place during her tenure.
For almost 40 years, Tracey Nix worked as a teacher in Hardee County schools and was previously well-known for her contributions to the field. However, her lengthy career has been overshadowed by the tragic occurrences.
The risks of leaving kids in hot cars, particularly in hot regions, have also received more attention as a result of this tragedy.
Last year, 40 kids lost their lives in heated automobile accidents.
Between 1990 and 2024, at least 1,125 children in the US sadly perished in hot cars, while another 7,500 survived but suffered from various injuries, according to Kids and Car Safety. Additionally, 40 children sadly lost their lives in heated car accidents in the US just last year.
According to the organization’s records, the majority of victims were three years of age or less, and in 56% of these cases, the child was accidentally left in the car. Heatstroke or hyperthermia, which happens when the body overheats and is unable to cool down, is frequently the cause of these fatalities.
On its website, Kids and Car Safety stated that most parents and caregivers are unaware of the dangers of hot cars and would prefer to think that they will never experience one.
The person responsible for the child unintentionally left them in the car in more than half of hot car fatalities. This typically occurs to parents who are protective, loving, and caring. Teachers, dentists, social workers, police officers, nurses, clergy, soldiers, and even rocket scientists have all experienced it. Anyone can experience it.
In an interview with NBC San Diego, Dr. David Diamond, a psychology professor at the University of South Florida, described how simple it is to forget a youngster in the backseat:
Our strong brain-autopilot memory system causes us to perform tasks automatically, which causes us to lose awareness of other mental processes, such as the presence of a child in the car.
Kids and Car Safety encourages parents to always secure their cars so kids can’t unintentionally lock themselves inside in order to help prevent such tragedies.
Checking the backseat each time you get out of the car is another crucial practice. In order to make you check the backseat every time you exit the car, experts advise leaving a valuable object there, such as a wallet or set of keys.