A heartbreaking case out of Central Florida has drawn national attention as Tracey Nix, a 65-year-old grandmother and former school principal, was sentenced to five years in prison for the tragic death of her 7-month-old granddaughter, Uriel Schock, who died after being left in a hot car in 2022.
The sentencing comes nearly two-and-a-half years after the fatal incident and just under a year after another grandchild, 16-month-old Ezra, drowned while also in Nix’s care.
What Happened on November 1, 2022?
According to investigators and court documents, Tracey Nix had taken baby Uriel out to lunch with friends and returned home around 2 p.m. After parking her SUV, she went inside, talked to her dog, and practiced piano for what she described as “a long time.” She later admitted that she forgot the baby was in the car.
By the time she remembered, it was around 5 p.m., and outside temperatures in Hardee County were hovering around 90°F. Nix’s husband rushed to perform CPR, but Uriel had died from hyperthermia—a condition caused by dangerously high body temperatures.
Previous Tragedy: Ezra’s Drowning
This wasn’t the first tragedy under Nix’s care. In December 2021, just months earlier, 16-month-old Ezra Schock drowned after he got out of the house while Nix was asleep. According to investigators, Ezra managed to open doors, crawl under a fence, and fall into a nearby pond. He was found lifeless soon after.
Both children were the children of Kaila Nix-Schock and Drew Schock, who have now lost two of their young kids in less than a year, both while under the supervision of their grandmother.
The Legal Outcome
In the most recent case, Tracey Nix was charged and found guilty of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle causing great bodily harm. However, she was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter, which could have carried a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
During sentencing, the judge handed down the maximum sentence of five years and expressed doubts about Nix’s remorse.
“Uriel is not an isolated incident. I do not believe she is showing remorse; I believe she is showing sorrow,” said Judge Brandon Rafool during the hearing.
Emotional Reactions in Court
Tears flowed in the courtroom as both parents, Kaila and Drew, spoke directly about the pain of losing two children.
Kaila addressed her mother emotionally:
“I still love you. I hate this. I hate that I have to choose, but you know I had to. But it doesn’t change my heart.”
Drew was more direct, questioning why jail time was even being debated after two tragedies under Nix’s care.
“She’s done this twice and the fact that we’re debating whether she deserves jail time is just insane to me.”
Nix’s Statement in Court
Tracey Nix, who chose not to testify during the trial, spoke during sentencing. She said she had forgotten the baby was in the car and added:
“I’m broken about what happened. I don’t want to leave anyone with the thought that I’m making excuses, because I’m not.”
Her husband, Nun Ney Nix, spoke about her silent mourning, saying she rarely leaves the house and has struggled deeply since the incidents. She had also sought mental health treatment following her arrest.
Hot Car Deaths in the U.S.
Tragically, this is not an isolated case. According to Kids and Car Safety, 40 children died in hot cars in the U.S. in 2023. The organization continues to push for better car safety measures, including alert systems and public awareness campaigns.