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[Southsider2k12]

http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/michigan-ci...ations/26442854

MICHIGAN CITY -

The state of Indiana has ordered the immediate closing of Tricia's Playhouse, a childcare home, after a 5-year-old boy hanged himself on a jump rope and died at the day care Monday.

WSBT investigated the day care, and found it has a history of violations.

Officials from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and the Department of Child Services were on the scene Tuesday night, looking into the day care, located on 1824 E. Michigan Blvd.

Authorities decided the conditions are too dangerous, and "pose an immediate threat to the life and well-being of the children."

They also ruled 5-year-old Amareon Williams died of asphyxiation "due to lack of supervision."

History of violations

While the day care is licensed by the state of Indiana, it was placed on probation over the last several months due to those violations.

State documents show Tricia's Playhouse, owned by a woman named Tricia Calvin, has been cited by inspectors six times. All of those violations were found on April 21, 2014. Several of them were very serious.

The FSSA states Tricia's Playhouse did not report a case of suspected sex abuse, physical abuse or child exploitation. Caretakers are required to do so under state law.

Another violation states a caretaker punished one child "inappropriately," breaking state laws that prohibit "cruel, harsh or unusual punishment" to children.

Other violations include a fire exit hazard, missing certifications for two staff members, and no proper background checks performed on two staff members before their employment.

Calvin opened the day care in May 2012, but had no violations until April 2014. The state is required to perform inspections only once a year.

Calvin has 90 days to appeal the closure. Otherwise, the day care will stay closed for the next 90 days. The state may choose to extend that closure.

The LaPorte County Prosecutor Bob Szilagyi tells WSBT they are still investigating the boy's death. It will take several days before the office decides whether or not to file criminal charges.

Before it was closed, Tricia's Playhouse received federal money to care for low-income children. It is no longer eligible to receive those funds.

[Southsider2k12]

http://abc7chicago.com/news/daycare-owner-...-death/1705638/

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (WLS) --
The owner of a northwest Indiana daycare will spend time in jail in connection with the death of a child.

Tricia Calvin has been sentenced to a year in the La Porte County Jail with three months of that sentenced suspended.

Calvin pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in the 2014 death of Amareon Williams.

The 5-year-old accidentally hanged himself with a jump rope that was left on top of playground equipment. Williams and other children were left alone in the backyard of Tricia's playhouse in Michigan City.

Two other day care workers, Stephanie Johnson and Erica Merriweather, have already been sentenced in the case.