Day Care Operator Faces 34 Felonies after Infant Dies

A southwest Missouri day care operator is charged with 34 felonies after a 4-month-old child in her care died.

The Springfield News-Leader reports 52-year-old Cheri Beason was indicted for child neglect or endangering in the August 2017 death of Brynlee Jones. The indictment became public Wednesday.

Court documents say Beason was looking after more than 20 children at her unlicensed daycare near Rogersville when Brynlee died. Unlicensed day care providers aren’t allowed to watch more than four unrelated children.

The documents allege Beason left one adult supervising 20 children who were 5 or younger on the day Brynlee died.

Beason also was charged by the state in January with the infraction of operating a day care without a license.

Online court records don’t indicate Beason has an attorney.