Fla. Grandmother Who 'Forgot' About Infant Granddaughter in Hot Car Gets 5 Years for her Death

A Florida grandmother was sentenced to five years in prison for leaving her infant granddaughter in a hot car, leading to her death — though she was acquitted of the top charges she faced.

On Thursday, April 3, Tracey Nix, 67, appeared in court in Hardee County, Fla., where she learned her fate, according to WFTS, Fox 13 and WTSP. 

Nix was found guilty by a Polk County jury in January of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle, but was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter, Fox 13 reports. Nix faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the aggravated manslaughter charge.

Authorities said Nix’s 7-month-old granddaughter, Uriel Schock, died in November 2022 while in Nix’s care. The infant was left in an SUV with the windows rolled up as outside temperatures hit 90 degrees in Wauchula, Fla., according to an affidavit previously cited by WFTS.

Nix told investigators at the time that she “just forgot” about the child after returning home from lunch with friends, per the affidavit. It wasn’t until a relative arrived at the home that it occurred to her that Uriel had been in the car all afternoon, the affidavit stated, per the outlet.

The grandmother’s husband found the baby in the backseat of the SUV and attempted CPR but the child wasn’t able to be revived, according to WFTS.

Nix declined to testify in her own defense during the trial but did speak at the sentencing.

“I’m broken about what happened,” Nix said, per Fox 13. “I don’t want to leave anyone with the thought that I’m making excuses, because I’m not.”

At the sentencing, Uriel’s mother, Kaila Nix-Schock, became emotional while addressing her own mother.

“I still love you. I hate this. I hate that I have to choose. But you know I have to. It doesn’t change my heart,” WFTS reports.

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This isn’t the first time the family has faced tragedy. In 2021, just days before Christmas, Uriel’s 16-month-old brother Ezra also died while he was in Nix’s care, Kaila previously told WFTS. The toddler reportedly drowned in a nearby lake while Nix, a former school principal in Hardee County, was asleep. 

Nix was never charged in connection with the death of Ezra. Citing the State Attorney’s Office, WFTS reported at the time, there “was insufficient evidence to establish culpable negligence” in the incident.

Uriel’s father, Drew Schock, also spoke in court, saying, “There are some things you don’t think about, and as parents we have to live with that for the rest of our lives,” Fox 13 reports.

The judge apparently saw no remorse from Nix for Uriel’s death.

“Uriel is not an isolated incident,” said Judge Brandon Rafool, per Fox 13. “I do not believe she is showing remorse; I believe she is showing sorrow.”