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Day care legislation to be named for Jace Hester

By Jim Wallace - bio | email

October 31, 2008

ALBANY, GA (WALB) -  The mother of a baby who died at a home daycare center says parents need to pay close attention to where they leave their children.

Amanda Hester says she made a mistake by leaving her baby at a home daycare center.

The four month old was found dead in February. She's working with state legislators to pass stricter laws on home day care centers.

Amanda Hester says it's important that parents with children in home day care centers see these pictures. These are the crime scene photos taken in the room in Barbara Ann Fuller's home the day that four month old Jace Hester was found not breathing.

State reports point out Investigators found dog feces under Jace's crib and the carpet was urine stained. The pictures show mold in the bathroom just feet from that crib.

Hester said "I put Jace in private day care, because I thought it would be the best thing for him. Because I thought he would get better care in a private day care and I was wrong."

The GBI autopsy ruled his death as unexplained sudden infant death, and found no criminal negligence. But the state agency that licenses day care centers cited 16 major violations and pulled her certification. Fuller was indicted for misdemeanor reckless conduct Monday, but Amanda says the criminal charges don't concern her.

Hester said "It's never going to change that. That he's not here, I can't see him grow up. I can't see him take his first steps. It's not going to change that."

Instead Hester has teamed with State Senator- Elect Freddie Powell Sims to introduce legislation in Jace Hester's name to toughen inspection standards on home day cares in Georgia.

Attorney Patrick Flynn said "They don't need to assume that the state is doing the job they said they have done, and the job they are supposed to have done. Because they certainly failed Miss Hester and her child in this case."

Amanda Hester said she hopes legislation in Jace's name will bring some good from his tragic death.

Hester said "To fight for him and other children. Hopefully this won't happen to anybody else."

Currently Georgia law says home day centers must qualify for registration each year, but there are only random checks.

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