Madisonville, Kentucky — A 10-month-old girl died after she was left for about eight hours in a parked vehicle outside the medical facility where her grandmother worked, authorities said.
Police: Infant found in car seat outside clinic
Police identified the child as Scottie Gwyn Crowell. She was discovered strapped into her car seat in the back of her grandmother’s vehicle on Aug. 13, according to police. The car was parked outside Owensboro Health Multicare in Madisonville, where the grandmother, 61-year-old Dr. Stacey Fazenbaker, was working that day.
Authorities said Fazenbaker had volunteered that morning to take Scottie to daycare. Instead, investigators say, she drove to work and apparently did not realize the infant remained in the vehicle. Around 4 p.m., the child’s father went to the daycare to pick her up and learned she had never arrived that morning; family members then discovered the baby in Fazenbaker’s car, police said.
Heat inside vehicle reached about 115°F, per reports
Outside temperatures climbed to about 95°F, while the temperature inside the vehicle reached approximately 115°F, according to the reporting. Madisonville Police Major Jason McKnight said Fazenbaker rushed outside with coworkers after the discovery, but the child could not be saved. Officers also attempted emergency lifesaving measures after arriving at the scene.
No charges filed; autopsy and tests pending
The case remains under investigation. Authorities have not filed criminal charges against Fazenbaker at this time. Police said the grandmother underwent testing for alcohol and drugs, and investigators do not currently expect positive results. McKnight said prosecutors could potentially pursue charges later if the investigation establishes sufficient evidence. An autopsy is expected to provide additional information about the official cause of death.
Family details and tributes
According to reports, Fazenbaker had moved to Madisonville about a year earlier to be closer to her daughter, 33‑year‑old OB‑GYN Sydni Crowell. The family said Scottie was their second child and was born Sept. 20, 2025, following in vitro fertilization, per the reporting. Scottie’s aunt, Emmy Fazenbaker, a sports reporter at Middle Tennessee State University, posted a social media tribute, writing that the family loved their “sweet baby girl.”
Source note
Details above are drawn from police statements as reported by Opposing Views, which cited the New York Post.
