Police are questioning a South Austin
daycare center director about the death of her
2-year-old daughter.
Chloe Abbott was found dead
Wednesday night inside her mother's SUV outside of the
La Petite Academy on Chisholm Lane.
The car was outside the daycare during the
hottest time of day when temperatures were higher than
90 degrees.
Austin police say Nicky Abbott, the
daycare center director, left Chloe inside a Mitsubishi
Montero for more three hours.
Police detectives
did not say why Abbott left her child inside the SUV.
The autopsy report shows Chloe died from heat
exhaustion.
A criminal investigation is going on, and
a state agency is now looking into La Petite
Academy.
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Child
death
No charges have been filed against
the child's mother, Nicky Abbott.
 
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"If
we find that a daycare is too dangerous for children to
attend, then we would take action to protect children
from that situation. That can include closing the
daycare," said Art Bussey of the Texas
Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services.
A La Petite Academy spokesperson
said Nicky Abbott was fired from the daycare center.
They said Chloe was not enrolled at the
academy.
La Petite staff members and parents
whose children are enrolled there are in shock.
"I didn't bring my child today. I'm not
taking my child back here," parent Rachel Jones
said.
“We definitely want answers. We deserve
answers. We pay for this for the well-being of our
kids," parent Cindee Rivera said.
"I can't work. I'm just concerned, and my
kids are my everything. If she is supposed to be
overlooking the whole day care, how is she going to look
over my three kids?" parent Selena Alejo said.
Bussey warned parents about the risks of
heat-related deaths:
"Parents, do not leave you children in a
car. Texas summers are very hot and it doesn't take very
long for a child to succumb to the heat," he said.
Police are still talking to the Abbotts
hoping to understand why Chloe was left in the car.
Police have not filed any charges against
Nicky Abbott, but say the investigation continues.
La Petite is a national daycare chain
with over 600 locations. There are 11 in the Austin
area.
