2 Speedway daycare workers plead not guilty in death of baby

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) — Two daycare workers charged in connection with the death of a 10-month-old have pleaded not guilty.

Karen Tharpe and Jacqueline Murray both face a felony charge of child neglect resulting in death.

Murray owned Miracles and Blessings Daycare in Speedway, and Tharpe was an employee.

In May, Murray left the daycare to pick up other children from school, leaving Tharpe as the sole caregiver for 36 children, prosecutors say.

Tharpe told police she placed Taliah Brigham partially strapped into a car seat and left her unattended for about five minutes.

She returned to find Brigham not breathing, she told police.

Brigham later died at the hospital.

Tharpe and Murray are due back in court Oct. 11.