Alexandra Coffey, 30, faces an involuntary manslaughter charge and a new wrongful death lawsuit from the parents of 16-month-old Maddy Mitchell, who died on her first day at Creative Beginnings daycare in Lenoir, North Carolina, on May 19, 2025.
Lawsuit Allegations
The Caldwell County civil suit claims Coffey forced Maddy face-down on a nap mat after she resisted sleep, covered her head with a blanket, pinned her legs, and laid her upper body on the toddler’s torso and neck until Maddy stopped kicking—then scrolled on her phone without checking for three hours. First responders found the girl in early rigor mortis; her death was ruled a homicide by compression asphyxia.
Criminal Case Status
Coffey bonded out post-arrest; her next court date remains unscheduled. The facility’s license was suspended by North Carolina health officials, leading to its shutdown.
Family Pursuit
Maddy’s parents seek compensatory and punitive damages via jury trial, highlighting alleged gross negligence on Coffey’s first-day oversight of the child.
