Testimony begins in trial of Florida grandmother charged in baby's hot car death

Testimony is underway Tuesday in the trial of a Hardee County woman charged in the death of her 7-month-old granddaughter who was left in a hot car more than two years ago.

A jury was seated Monday in Polk County, where Tracey Nix's trial is being held because of concerns over too much publicity in Hardee County.

Pictured: Tracey Nix in court Tuesday.

Pictured: Tracey Nix in court Tuesday.

Case against Tracey Nix

Backstory: Prosecutors say Nix left her 7-month-old granddaughter, Uriel Schock, in the car after returning home from lunch with friends on Nov. 1, 2022.

By the time Nix realized the infant was still in the car, it was too late.

Nix was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter.

Image courtesy of Kaila Nix.

Image courtesy of Kaila Nix.

Uriel was the second grandchild to die while in Nix's care. In December 2021, 16-month-old Ezra died after he opened doors, went under a fence and wandered into a pond outside Nix's Wauchula home, according to deputies. No charges were filed in that case.

The trial

Opening Statements

What they're saying: Prosecutors laid out their case Tuesday morning, detailing how Tracey Nix picked up Uriel from her daughter, Kaila Nix, who went to a hair appointment while Tracey took the baby to lunch with friends at Beef ‘O' Brady's in Wauchula on Nov. 1, 2022.

Attorneys for the state said Tracey Nix did "everything a good babysitter should do" before going home and practicing piano while Uriel was left inside the car for hours.

The defense described the baby's death as "a tragedy that does not amount to a crime under Florida law if you listen to the evidence."

Testimony

What they're saying: Kaila Nix was first to take the stand, becoming emotional when talking about having to identify her daughter's body on the evening of Nov. 1, 2022.

"It was sheer anxiety," Kaila Nix said, appearing to hold back tears.

During cross-examination, Kaila Nix admitted that she normally took her children with her to hair appointments like the one she went to that day while Tracey watched Uriel.

"I also could have very well taken her with me," Kaila Nix said. "My daughter had, in fact, attended every other hair appointment and any appointment that I had for myself otherwise."

Friends who met Tracey Nix for lunch that day also testified Tuesday morning. Jurors then heard the 911 call from Tracey Nix’s daughter, Rebecca Tucker.

911 call

She had just arrived at her parent’s Wachula home to drop her son off for the afternoon. Instead, she found a frantic scene.

7-month-old Uriel Schock was receiving CPR from her grandfather.

"Her eyes are open, she’s not moving or breathing," said Tucker.

Tracey Nix, Uriel’s grandmother, had just remembered the infant was left in the back seat of her car.

"Mom how long has she been in the car?" asked Tucker.

Nix responded, "A while."

More testimony

Uriel was left in the car as temperatures reached the 90s.

Nix’s attorney told the jury she is a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

"She’s a former teacher, principal and a church member who just made a mistake," said William Fletcher. "It was a tragedy that does not amount to a crime under Florida law."

The state told jurors her negligence was a crime.

"We are here today and for the next few days not to determine if Tracey Nix was a good person, we want to focus on her actions, inactions and results of her actions," said Assistant State Attorney Timothy Coleman.

Body camera video

On Tuesday afternoon, jurors watched the body camera video of Hardee County Detective Alice Fletcher.

Throughout the video, Nix can be heard telling detectives that she can't face her daughter.

"I don’t want to face anybody. I can’t face my daughter. I can not do that," said Nix.

Detectives then took Nix to the sheriff’s office, where they questioned her.

What's next 

The jury went home Tuesday afternoon after listening to a dozen witnesses.

They will return on Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. and the medical examiner will testify first.

Closing arguments could happen later in the day, but the trial is scheduled to go until Friday if testimony takes longer.

Tracey Nix faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of aggravated manslaughter.

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