news-record.com

HAW RIVER (MCT) — A 1-year-old boy who died at a day care center here in March was killed by hyperthermia, or exposure to heat.

An autopsy report released last week by the state Medical Examiner's Office in Chapel Hill confirmed the preliminary examination that led to involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse against 59-year-old Judy Harper, the owner of Palmer Leigh Small World day care.

An Alamance County grand jury indicted Harper on those charges last Monday.

The boy, identified as Jackson Edmonds, died March 9 at the day care center at 501 E. Main St. According to a search warrant, one of the firefighters who responded to the medical call at the day care center saw what was described as "burns and the skin was peeled up on the child's legs."

The report doesn't indicate how the child died from hyperthermia. However, the Times-News reported in March that the baby had been left in a car. The high temperature that day was 81 degrees.

The day care center has been closed since the baby's death.