Relatives Of Child Killed At Daycare Push For Change In Legislation

Wednesday, June 6th 2007, 8:25 pm

By: News On 6

Family members of a boy killed at his daycare are taking steps to ensure no other child dies in the same way. They say had the boyâ€™s parents known more about the day care's history, he may still be alive today. On Wednesday, News On 6 anchor Jennifer Loren talked with those family members and a Tulsa state lawmaker who is helping them get things changed. She reports Sharon and Terry Minton have been spending their recent free time handing out fliers, anywhere people will take them.

The fliers have a picture of their nephew, Joshua Minton on them, along with his date of birth and date of death. Terry Minton remembers holding him just before he died.

"A few weeks before, I was playing with the baby, bouncing him on my knee, blonde haired blue eyed, pretty kid,â€ said Terry Minton.

But Joshua Minton died last month while at his daycare.

His daycare provider, Vicki Chiles, was arrested and charged with murder. Police reports say she taped his hands and mouth shut, causing him to die of asphyxiation. Terry Minton says seeing Joshua Minton in death was horrific.

"That little fellow at the funeral laying in the coffin, looked like a baby doll, with bruises down the side of his face, bruises on his ribs and scratches, rug burns on his head where he tried to get out of the tape himself," said Terry Minton.

The Minton's say Joshua Minton's parents were deprived important information when deciding where their son should go for daycare. If they would have known that Vicki Chiles had numerous complaints against her for child abuse, things would be different now.

"If they had known of the allegations before, they never would have left their children there," said Sharon Minton.

They didn't know because DHS couldn't tell them.

Currently if someone wants that kind of information about their daycare provider they have to call state child care licensing, make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Then they have to go and look through the information themselves.

So, the family's enlisted the help of State Representative Ron Peters. He's conducting a legislative study to see what needs to be changed so that parents can get that important information.

"I'm trying to get DHS to make the information retrieval process much easier for the parent," said Peters.

He says this study will help lawmakers, and the Minton family, change whatever needs to be changed to keep Oklahoma children safe.

"But you have to have the information to make an informed decision, and so thatâ€™s what I'm trying to do is get the parent the information so they can be in charge of whatâ€™s best for their child," Peters said.

On the fliers they provide a copy of one current state law they want changed and the governor's mailing address. They hope to have a petition circulating by next week.

Related stories:

5/17/2007 2-Year-Old Dies After Being Tied Up At Daycare, Says Police

5/18/2007 Selecting The Right Daycare For Your Children

5/18/2007 Daycare Worker Accused Of Killing Child Was Already Under Investigation

5/21/2007 Daycare Owner Accused Of Murder Had Previous Charges

5/22/2007 - Family Of Toddler Who Died At Daycare Speaks Out

5/24/2007 Parents Of Child Who Died In Daycare Speak