New Mexico Supreme Court Overturns Convictions of Day Care Workers in Hot Car Death Case

The New Mexico Supreme Court has granted a new trial for two day care workers convicted in the 2017 death of a 1-year-old girl left in a hot car. The court found that the jury was given a set of confusing instructions at their joint trial in 2019.

The New Mexico Supreme Court has granted a new trial for two day care workers convicted in the 2017 death of a 1-year-old girl left in a hot car and the serious injury of another toddler. The high court ruled on Thursday that the jury was given confusing instructions during the joint trial of Mary Taylor and her adult daughter Sandi Taylor in 2019, leading to the reversal of their child abuse convictions.

Confusing Jury Instructions

According to a news release from the New Mexico Supreme Court, the jury was provided with an "and/or” list of factors to consider when determining the guilt of the day care workers. This list included whether the workers failed to do a proper headcount, drove the children without prior permission from the state's child protective services agency, "and/or” whether they failed to remove the girls from the car.

The high court found that this format allowed for alternative ways for the jury to find the defendants guilty of child abuse without requiring unanimous agreement on the specific conduct that led to the guilty verdict. This violated the defendants' right to a fair trial, as it allowed for the possibility of a conviction based on different interpretations of the evidence.

Background of the Case

The Taylors, both residents of Portales, New Mexico, operated a licensed day care center in their home. In July 2017, they drove a group of children, including two girls under the age of 2, to a nearby park for lunch and playtime. Tragically, the two girls were left in the hot car for nearly three hours, resulting in the death of one girl and severe physical challenges for the other.

The high temperature in Clovis, near Portales, reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) that day, exacerbating the dangerous conditions inside the car.

Sentencing and Appeal

Following their convictions in 2019, the Taylors were each sentenced to 36 years in prison for reckless child abuse. However, they were released from custody in 2020 while their convictions were being appealed.

The New Mexico Supreme Court's decision to grant a new trial provides the Taylors with an opportunity to present their case again with clearer jury instructions. The outcome of the new trial will determine their ultimate fate in this tragic case.