DUNWOODY, GA – A woman from suburban Atlanta has been handed a 30-year prison sentence for the 2021 murder of a 4-month-old infant in her care. Amanda Hickey, 48, was sentenced on Friday following emotional testimonies from families of children she allegedly abused in her basement-operated child care center.
Hickey expressed remorse and accepted responsibility for her actions during her sentencing at the DeKalb County Superior Court. She was caring for Charlie Cronmiller in her Little Lovey child care center when he died on February 3, 2021. Hickey failed to check on the infant for over two hours, only to find him unresponsive and covered in vomit. The baby was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The child care center was run from the basement of Hickey’s Dunwoody residence. Initially, she claimed to have put the baby to sleep on his back, as per state regulations, but said the child rolled onto his stomach. However, security footage revealed that Hickey had actually placed the infant face down.
The video also showed Hickey handling other babies in a dangerous manner, including swinging them by their feet, slamming them into the ground, pulling their hair, and tripping toddlers. She also placed others in unsafe sleeping positions. The victims were between 6 and 18 months old.
Although Hickey was licensed to care for six children, prosecutors revealed that there were 10 children in her home on the day of Charlie’s death. On September 22, she pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including first-degree child cruelty, reckless conduct, second-degree child cruelty, and battery. Hickey entered an Alford plea, which allowed her to maintain her innocence while acknowledging that pleading guilty was in her best interest.
The infant’s mother, Stephanie Cronmiller, expressed her belief that Hickey showed no remorse for her actions. Hickey was taken into custody immediately after the hearing. The judge ordered that upon her release, Hickey is prohibited from having contact with the victims or any children under 13, and she cannot profit from the case.