A grand jury has declined to indict Dr. Stacey Fazenbaker, 61, in connection with the death of her granddaughter, baby Scottie Gwyn Crowell, who died on August 13 in Madisonville, Kentucky.
The decision means Fazenbaker will not face criminal prosecution in the case at this time.
Hopkins County Attorney Hannah Kington-Jarvis announced the outcome after the grand jury reviewed the case on October 27. The panel concluded that there was insufficient probable cause to issue an indictment.
Because grand jury proceedings are confidential, Kington-Jarvis said she could not disclose further information about the discussions or explain the specific reasons behind the decision.
In an official statement, the prosecutor commended the Madisonville Police Department for carrying out what she described as a thorough and impartial investigation. She also explained that prosecutors waited until investigators had collected the relevant evidence before presenting the case to the grand jury.
Dr. Stacey B. Fazenbaker, a family and functional medicine physician affiliated with Owensboro Health in Madisonville, Kentucky.
How the Tragic Incident Happened
The tragedy occurred after Fazenbaker allegedly picked up her granddaughter and planned to take her to daycare before continuing to her workplace at Owensboro Health Multicare.
According to reports about the incident, she apparently drove to work without realizing that the infant was still in the back seat of her vehicle.
Outdoor temperatures that day reached approximately 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside the parked vehicle, temperatures reportedly climbed to as high as 115 degrees, creating extremely dangerous conditions for the baby.
Scottie Gwyn Crowell, a 10-month-old baby girl died after being left for hours inside the back of her grandmother’s (a Kentucky doctor) blistering hot car outside of a medical clinic where she worked. https://t.co/pNICXAyesC
— Blanche Victoria (@tammytabby) August 21, 2026
Baby Scottie Gwyn Crowell of Madisonville, Kentucky, who died after being left inside a vehicle.
Several hours passed before the family realized that Scottie had never arrived at daycare.
Later that day, the baby’s father went to the daycare center and discovered that his daughter was not there. Her mother, Sydni Crowell, who is Fazenbaker’s daughter, then contacted the grandmother to ask where the child was.
At approximately 4 p.m., Fazenbaker reportedly rushed outside to check her vehicle. There, she discovered Scottie unresponsive in the back seat.
Emergency responders arrived and attempted to revive the infant, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Kington-Jarvis confirmed that both of Scottie’s parents, Sydni and Micah Crowell, were consulted during the investigation.
Baby Scottie Gwyn Crowell, whose death left her family devastated.
Family Left Grieving After Grand Jury Decision
The prosecutor also acknowledged the enormous loss experienced by Scottie’s family. She asked the public to keep the baby’s parents and loved ones in their thoughts and prayers as they continue coping with the tragedy.
Although the grand jury’s decision means no indictment will proceed from this case at this time, it does not change the devastating loss suffered by the family.
Scottie’s death also highlights the serious dangers of leaving children inside parked vehicles, even when an incident is believed to be accidental.
Temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly, even when the weather outside does not initially seem extreme. For infants and young children, exposure to such heat can quickly become life-threatening.
Her story is a heartbreaking reminder that a brief lapse in awareness can have irreversible consequences.
Sources: New York Post
