Woman Gets One Year in Death of Three Year Old at Day Care

Almost a year after a toddler died in a hot daycare minivan, the woman held responsible will spend a year in jail. Teresa Rodgers unknowlingly left Tavian Johnson in the van for several hours last September. After the conviction, the jury took five minutes to give the maximum penalty of negligent homicide, a year in jail and a $1,000. Thirty-four year old Teresas Rodgers had nothing to say as she was taken from the Pulaski County Courthouse. But during sentencing in the courtroom, she said to Tavian`s family, "I would just like for them to know how sorry I am. I loved Tavian, too." "She seems to have accepted the verdict with a resignment a resolution, this is a case that no one can win," said her attorney Stephen Morley. It was a summer day on Sept. 11, 2003, when Tavian was left in a day care minivan at the Smart Start Learning Center in North Little Rock. Rodgers and another employee had picked him up and brought him to school. He was found dead in the van 6 hours later. Tavian`s family says they`re glad it`s all over. "Yeah we miss him very much, he played a part in all our lives," said Tavian`s grandfather, Clarence Robinson. "We know he`s in a better place." Wednesday, Rodgers` testified that she though someone else had gotten him out of the van. "In a manslaughter that she consciously disregarded that risk, that if she did not check the van and get those kids off, death would occur," said prosecuting attorney Melanie Martin. Prosecutors gave the jury a choice of manslaughter, or a lesser charge, negligent homicide. "We wanted to make sure other daycares know, out there, your job is important, you have a high duty to take care of those children that we entrust to you," Martin said. Rodgers, who is a single mother of three, has 30 days to appeal the verdict, although her attorney says they don`t expect to appeal. There could be hearing appealing the fine, Rodgers` attorney said in court, she may not be able to pay it. Another day care employee, Gary Askew was helping Rodgers the day Tavian died. He`s also been charged with manslaughter, his trial is expected next week.