Kentucky Doctor Leaves 10-Month-Old Granddaughter in Hot Car for Eight Hours, Police Say

MADISONVILLE, Kentucky — A Kentucky physician is at the center of a heartbreaking investigation after police say she accidentally left her 10-month-old granddaughter inside a scorching hot car for nearly eight hours while she worked at a medical clinic.

The infant, Scottie Gwyn Crowell, died on August 13 after being discovered unresponsive in the back seat of her grandmother’s vehicle outside Owensboro Health Multicare in Madisonville. Authorities say temperatures reached 95°F (35°C) that afternoon, while the interior of the car is believed to have climbed to 115°F (46°C). The investigation remains ongoing, and no criminal charges have been filed.

A Routine Day Turned Into Tragedy

According to Madisonville police, Scottie’s grandmother, Dr. Stacey Fazenbaker, had volunteered to pick the baby up that morning and drive her to daycare before heading to work.

Investigators say Fazenbaker instead drove directly to the clinic around 8 a.m., apparently forgetting that the child was still strapped into her car seat in the back of the vehicle.

The mistake was not discovered until approximately 4 p.m., when Scottie’s father arrived at daycare to pick up his daughter and staff told him she had never been dropped off. His wife then contacted Fazenbaker, who immediately rushed outside with coworkers after realizing what had happened.

Emergency responders attempted lifesaving measures, but the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police: “It Was Far Too Late”

Madisonville Police Major Jason McKnight described the incident as one of the most devastating cases the department has encountered.

By the time officers arrived, Fazenbaker had already removed Scottie from the vehicle. Police, firefighters and medical personnel tried to revive the infant, but the prolonged exposure to extreme heat proved fatal.

Authorities emphasized that the case appears to be a tragic lapse in memory rather than an intentional act, though investigators are continuing to gather evidence before presenting the case to a grand jury.

A Family Devastated by Loss

Scottie was the second child of Dr. Sydni Crowell, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Madisonville, and her husband, Micah Crowell.

Family members have shared emotional tributes remembering the 10-month-old as a joyful, deeply loved baby. Scottie was born in September 2025 following in vitro fertilization, making her loss especially heartbreaking for her parents.

Relatives and members of the Madisonville community have gathered to support the family as they cope with the unimaginable tragedy.

Investigation Continues

Police have conducted routine blood testing on Fazenbaker as part of the investigation, but officials said they do not expect drugs or alcohol to have played a role.

An autopsy has been completed, and investigators are awaiting the official cause of death. Once the investigation is finished, the case will be reviewed by a grand jury to determine whether any charges are warranted.

The tragedy has renewed national attention on the dangers of hot cars. Safety experts warn that even when outdoor temperatures seem manageable, the inside of a parked vehicle can reach deadly levels within minutes, placing infants and young children at extreme risk.

For the Crowell family, however, the statistics are overshadowed by a far more painful reality: a routine daycare drop-off became a devastating loss that has forever changed three generations of one family.