Trial begins Monday for a woman who left her 7-month-old granddaughter in a hot car, leading to the child’s tragic death. Hardee County’s own Tracey Nix, a grandmother facing serious charges of aggravated manslaughter, finds herself at the center of a heartbreaking narrative that has gripped this small community. As reported by the ABC Action News I-Team nearly two years ago, this marks the second loss of a grandchild while under her care.
In Wauchula, a town with a population under 5,000, the pain is palpable, yet few can truly grasp the depth of grief that Kaila Nix carries. It was her mother who inadvertently left Uriel, her infant daughter, in the backseat while she attended to personal matters in November 2022. ABC Action News I-Team Reporter Kylie McGivern spoke with Kaila just prior to her mother’s trial, embodying the anguish and turmoil that once again surrounding their family.
“Overwhelmed is probably the best way to describe how I feel,” Kaila shared, her words heavy with sorrow. “No matter what happens, there are no winners in this situation. It’s a loss at every level.”
The I-Team previously connected with Kaila and her husband, Drew Schock, in the Spring of 2023, a few months after their world was shaken by Uriel’s death.
Toddler drowns, infant left in hot car less than a year apart at grandma’s house
“A little girl. How does anyone forget a little girl?” asked Schock, his eyes welling with tears, capturing the sheer disbelief and sadness that cloaks this family.
On that fateful day, Kaila had entrusted her mother, aged 65, with babysitting duties while she tended to her hair appointment. With temperatures soaring to 90 degrees, Tracey’s Lexus SUV sat parked in the yard, sealed from the outside world. It wasn’t until one of Tracey’s grandsons arrived that the stark realization hit her—Uriel had been left inside the locked vehicle throughout the afternoon. Her husband, Nun Ney Nix, immediately began CPR, but it was too late.
As a former school principal in Hardee County, Tracey was charged with aggravated manslaughter. The Hardee County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a complaint affidavit that after returning from lunch, Tracey simply “forgot” about her granddaughter, a chilling admission given the circumstances.
This incident is not an isolated tragedy for the family. Just days before Christmas in 2021, Uriel’s brother, 16-month-old Ezra, also lost his life at Tracey’s home, drowning in a nearby pond. The threads of loss weave a painful tapestry, linking two children to one heartbroken grandmother.
At the time of Ezra’s passing, Kaila and Drew were not aware of the incident report detailing how he had drowned while Tracey fell asleep. The detective noted a complaint affidavit for child neglect would be submitted to the State Attorney’s Office, but it wasn’t until Uriel’s death that Kaila learned legal actions had been considered for Ezra’s case.
The State Attorney’s Office summarized the complex nature of child accidents, explaining that Florida appellate courts have ruled that a one-time lapse in judgment from a caretaker does not constitute culpable negligence. Yet, here they are, facing the shadows of the past, as Judge has ruled Ezra’s tragedy will not be referenced during Tracey’s current trial.
“No matter what, we have to find a way to navigate through closure in this situation,” Kaila expressed, acknowledging the emotional burden regardless of the trial’s outcome. “Whether it leads to a conviction or plea, I find myself still picturing my mom, my heart aches for the woman who raised me. The struggle is very real.”
Kaila seeks accountability in justice, yearning not for revenge, but for acknowledgment of the stark reality that unfolded. “True ownership of the events is essential. I’ve never believed there was ill intent,” she stated, wrestling with her emotions that oscillate between sorrow and the desperate need for resolution.
When posed with the question of her mother serving prison time, Kaila shared the duality of her feelings. “There is a part of me, the mother in me, demanding justice for my child, but there is also that five-year-old girl inside, who doesn’t want pain for my mom,” she confessed, the conflict adding complexity to an already unbearable situation.
The thought of a “not guilty” verdict looms, with consequences that ripple through the family. Kaila reflects, “That realization—if it happens—will crush us. It will impact my husband, my son, and will become a part of our narrative.”
As the I-Team first met this family, they welcomed a new daughter, Adriel, who now brightens their life at four months old. “Every time I look at her, I see flashes of my other two children. In many ways, she evokes memories of both Ezra and Uriel, and I’m reminded of both joy and pain so acutely in those moments,” Kaila mused, carrying the weight of love and loss.
Expressing her commitment to her children, Kaila said, “I stand for Uriel, who cannot bathe, attend school or experience life. I need to speak for her, that is my role.”
Jury selection is set to commence this coming Monday, and Kaila is prepared to testify for the prosecution. The I-Team reached out to both the state prosecutor and Tracey’s defense attorney, but neither offered comments ahead of the trial. If convicted, Tracey faces a prison sentence ranging from 12 to 30 years.
In Riverview, a local resident named Sirrita Rubiano is currently facing her struggles, emerging from the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton, contending with the financial burden of repairing a vinyl fence she believes reflects the community’s shared responsibilities.
Woman claims she was told to fix community fence damaged by Hurricane Milton
