Authorities in St. Francois County are investigating the death of 3-year-old Conrad Ashcraft, who died Friday while in the care of Poppy’s Playhouse 2, a daycare in Park Hills. Days after the tragedy, his mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging negligence.
According to the lawsuit, a daycare employee forced Conrad to sleep by applying weight and pressure to his body, causing suffocation. The child allegedly remained in that position for hours until his mother arrived to pick him up and discovered him lifeless.
His aunt, Lacey Hardie, described the devastating discovery as a “nightmare,” explaining that Conrad’s limited speech prevented him from expressing distress. “He was just a fun, sweet, loving baby. He loved his mom and dad more than anything in the world,” she told 5 On Your Side. Hardie said Conrad had only recently learned to say, “I love you”, KDSK reports.
The lawsuit claims daycare management approved the use of physical restraint techniques and failed to properly train or supervise staff. Hardie added that nap time began at about 12:30 p.m., and when Conrad’s mother arrived around 4:15, she was told he was still sleeping. Instead, she found him unresponsive, face down on a pillow.
The family believes staff used a weighted blanket and applied pressure with their legs until Conrad stopped moving. “He was killed and remained lying on the floor for hours without any effort to determine his well-being,” the lawsuit stated.
The St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood are investigating. A DESE spokesperson said no additional details will be available until the probe is complete.
Records show the daycare is owned by Park Hills Ward 2 Councilwoman Spring Gray. The city said the case was immediately referred to the sheriff’s office due to Gray’s position. Online listings showed Poppy’s Playhouse as “temporarily closed” by Tuesday, while its Facebook page was cleared of photos and posts.
State inspection records reveal the facility has faced multiple violations since opening in 2021. Allegations included falsified timesheets, children left unattended, and staff restraining children in chairs. A 2024 violation detailed an incident where unsupervised toddlers entered a kitchen, and one child played in another’s vomit while a caregiver smoked outside.
Hardie has vowed to fight for accountability. “I will not stop, and I will not allow this to get swept under the rug,” she said.
A memorial for Conrad has grown outside the daycare. Local businesses, including the Bullpen in Leadington, are organizing benefits and silent auctions to support the family. Conrad’s funeral will take place on Friday, followed by a memorial ride in his honor.