The owner of a Red Bay daycare is facing more than two dozen criminal charges, including manslaughter, following the 2022 death of a four-month-old girl who was left unattended inside the facility. According to Franklin County court records, Angelene Chamblee, the owner of Tiny Tigers Daycare, was indicted on multiple new charges after prosecutors presented additional evidence to a grand jury.
Chamblee now faces one count of manslaughter, 18 counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument, two counts of second-degree forgery, and six counts of operating a daycare without a license or permit. The charges stem from the death of Autumn Wells, who was just four months old when she died on March 9, 2022.
Investigators said the infant was left on her stomach on a “Boppy” nursing pillow for an extended period, which ultimately led to her death. Franklin County Coroner Charles Adcox confirmed that Wells was transported from Tiny Tigers Daycare to a local hospital in a private vehicle, where she was later pronounced dead.
Chamblee was initially charged in 2022 with six counts of violating the Child Care Act and two counts of forgery. However, prosecutors later filed a motion to “nolle prosequi” those charges, meaning they would not move forward with the original case, Local CBS affiliate WHNT reported.
The Franklin County District Attorney’s Office stated in its filing that new evidence and witness testimony had surfaced during preparations for the separate trial of another daycare worker, prompting a fresh round of charges against Chamblee.
That worker, Payton Gann, was convicted of manslaughter earlier this year for her role in Wells’ death. A jury found Gann guilty in June, and she was sentenced in September. Three other women — Hannah Grace Letson, Teia Kay Gann, and Madison Jade McCalpin — were also charged in connection with the case.
According to court records, Teia Gann entered a guilty plea earlier in 2025, while Letson pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence. One of Letson’s other charges was dismissed as part of her plea agreement. McCalpin sought youthful offender status in 2022, but her request was denied.
The tragic case has drawn renewed attention to unlicensed daycare operations and safety standards for infants in child care settings. State officials have urged parents to ensure that facilities caring for young children are properly licensed and follow safe sleep guidelines.
Chamblee remains under investigation, and court proceedings in her case are ongoing. If convicted, she could face significant prison time for her role in the infant’s death and for operating an unlicensed daycare.