Latest developments in Conrad investigations and lawsuits
Photo courtesy of Lacey Ashcraft-Hardie.
According to court documents, on June 16, the Missouri Supreme Court authorized a temporary transfer of the Honorable Joseph A. Rathert and the official court reporter from the 23rd Judicial Circuit in Jefferson County to the 24th Judicial Circuit in St. Francois County. Judge Rathert will now preside over the wrongful death suit filed by Conrad Ashcraft’s mother, Tara Williams, against Poppy’s Playhouse, LLC. The suit alleges negligence by daycare staff caused the death of her three-year-old non-verbal son, who also had autism.
On the same date, court records show that Judge Rathert has been temporarily transferred to also preside over the wrongful death suit filed by Conrad Ashcraft’s father, Joshua Ashcraft, against Tiffany Hedrick, Spring Gray, and Poppy’s Playhouse, LLC. Ashcraft’s suit also claims that negligence by daycare staff caused Conrad’s death.
Death investigation continues
The criminal investigation and the Park Hills Police Department immediately requested that the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department investigate because the daycare owner, Spring Gray, was at that time a member of the Park Hills City Council. Her resignation from that position was accepted by Park Hills Mayor Stacey Easter on May 20. Detectives from the sheriff’s department immediately began an independent investigation into the three-year-old boy’s death. According to a department spokesperson, complete autopsy reports are not yet available.
When the investigators have that information, it will be submitted to Trisha Stefanski, the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney, who will be responsible for determining whether criminal charges will be filed. Stefanski agreed to accept a judicial appointment as an independent Special Prosecuting Attorney when it was revealed that Gray had been employed at the St. Francois County Courthouse with three separate prosecutors.
License status with DESE
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)’s Office of Childhood (DESE OOC) is the state-level organization that oversees programs and initiatives related to childcare and early childhood development. On May 20, a representative from DESE’s OOC hand-delivered the notification of immediate suspension of the child care license at Poppy’s Playhouse 2. The five-page document included facts regarding the suspension, taken directly from interviews conducted by compliance inspection staff or by reviewing video interviews conducted by law enforcement.
A portion of the letter stated, “This letter is to notify Poppy’s Playhouse, LLC, d/b/a Poppy’s Playhouse 2, that DESE, OOC is immediately suspending its child care license. DESE, OOC is suspending Poppy’s Playhouse, LLC, d/b/a Poppy’s Playhouse 2,’s license because on May 16, 2025, group home provider Tiffany Hedrick secluded Child A (3 years old) to the hallway during naptime because he was crying and whining. Hedrick laid Child A on his stomach and trapped his arms into his tucked blanket, as well as covered Child A with an additional 18.2-pound weighted blanket…” The license suspension only pertains to Poppy’s Playhouse 2 location in Park Hills, clarified by the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) at DESE.
The Daily Journal contacted DESE via email on June 10 regarding the determination of the appeal hearing that was scheduled for June 9, after Poppy’s Playhouse LLC appealed the license suspension on May 29. The reply from the CCO stated, “The hearing was continued to June 25. Poppy’s Playhouse 2 remains closed due to the immediate suspension of its license.”
This is a developing story. The Daily Journal will update as information becomes available.
Lisa Brotherton-Barnes is a Daily Journal staff writer. She can be reached at lbarnes@dailyjournalonline.com.
