Grand Jury Declines to Indict Kentucky Doctor in Granddaughter Hot Car Death

Grand Jury Declines Indictment in Hot-Car Death of Kentucky Infant

A Kentucky grand jury declined to bring criminal charges against a 61-year-old physician whose 10-month-old granddaughter died after being left inside a hot car on August 13, 2026. Dr. Stacey Fazenbaker will face no criminal trial after the panel returned a “no true bill,” finding insufficient probable cause, Hopkins County Attorney Hannah Kington-Jarvis announced.

Key Clinical Takeaways:
• Ten-month-old Scottie Gwyn Crowell died inside a vehicle outside Owensboro Health Multicare in Madisonville, Kentucky, on August 13, 2026.
• Ambient outdoor temperatures reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit that day, causing interior vehicle temperatures to spike to 115 degrees, according to reports.
• A Hopkins County grand jury reviewed the case on October 27, 2026, and officially declined to issue an indictment.

Investigation Details from Madisonville Police and Prosecutors

Fazenbaker had picked up the infant, Scottie Gwyn Crowell, with the intended plan of dropping her off at daycare before heading to work at Owensboro Health Multicare in Madisonville. Instead, authorities stated the child remained in the vehicle while Fazenbaker went inside the facility. Later that afternoon, Fazenbaker returned to the car and discovered the baby unresponsive. First responders attempted emergency resuscitation efforts, but the child died.

Hopkins County Attorney Hannah Kington-Jarvis stated that the Madisonville Police Department conducted a thorough and objective investigation. Prosecutors deliberately delayed presenting the case to the grand jury until all relevant evidence was compiled for review. Because grand jury proceedings are legally secret, Kington-Jarvis could not elaborate further on the panel’s deliberations beyond confirming the “no true bill” decision returned on Tuesday.

Parents Consulted as Community Prays for Grieving Family

The infant’s parents, Sydni and Micah Crowell, were directly consulted throughout the investigative process and prior to the grand jury presentation. The mother called Fazenbaker after the baby’s father discovered the child was absent from daycare later that afternoon, prompting the grandmother to rush out to her vehicle around 4 p.m.

Kington-Jarvis publicly asked the community to keep the infant’s parents and family in their thoughts and prayers as they process the loss. While the grand jury’s decision concludes the current criminal grand jury proceedings without an indictment, prosecutors emphasized that the outcome reflects the lack of legally sufficient probable cause rather than a factual determination of all events that transpired.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.