State vs. Amanda Hickey

Decatur, Ga.- A DeKalb County Grand Jury has indicted the owner of a Dunwoody home daycare center in connection with the death of a four-month-old baby and other allegations of abuse related to children in her care. Jurors returned a 20-count indictment Tuesday against 46-year-old Amanda Hickey on charges of Murder in the Second Degree, Cruelty to Children in the First Degree (seven counts), Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree (two counts), Simple Battery (three counts), and Reckless Conduct (seven counts).

The charges against Hickey stem from the February 3, 2021 death of a four-month-old baby boy in her care. The child was found unresponsive in his crib at Hickey’s “Little Lovey” home daycare center. According to the investigation, the baby had been placed on his stomach for sleep--against recommended medical guidelines for infant sleep positions. Video evidence indicated the child was left unattended for more than two hours prior to being found. Further investigation revealed other alleged abuses against six other victims in the daycare center ranging in age from six months to 16 months old. The daycare center was licensed for a maximum of six children, but on the date of the alleged incident(s), was nearly double capacity.

Following the indictment against Defendant Hickey, the case will be assigned to a DeKalb County Superior Court Judge and later set for trial.

The case is being prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Sexual Exploitation and Crimes Against Children (SECAC) Unit.