Watch the full day 1 trial recap from Kylie McGivern
Jury Selection for grandmother that left baby in hot car
3:30 PM
A jury has been officially seated. The upcoming opening statements are set to commence tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM.
8:30 AM
Jury selection started early in the day.
On Monday, Tracey Nix appeared in court, flanked by her supportive husband.
As a former principal in Hardee County, Tracey is a familiar face in Wauchula, a tight-knit community of fewer than 5,000. In the wake of this tragedy, signs proclaiming “Justice for Ezra & Uriel” dot the yards of many homes, a solemn reminder of the lives lost.
The heartbreak began, one might say, three days before Christmas in 2021, when Ezra tragically drowned at Tracey’s home. Not long after that sorrowful event, less than a year later, the family faced further agony with the death of Uriel, who succumbed to the heat inside a parked car. Due to a judge’s order, the events surrounding Ezra’s death will sadly remain unexamined during this trial.
As the case has attracted both local and national attention, it was relocated to Polk County to ensure an impartial jury.
What stands out:
The jury selection process began Monday for a woman from Hardee County accused of leaving her 7-month-old granddaughter in a scorching car, leading to the infant’s tragic death. This shocking incident, which was first uncovered by the ABC Action News I-Team nearly two years ago, marks the second grandchild lost under Tracey Nix’s supervision.
Just under a year apart, one grandchild drowned while the other was forgotten in a hot car — an unimaginable series of events at Grandma’s house.
The Hardee County complaint affidavit details that on the day of the incident, Kaila Nix requested her mother Tracey, now 65, to babysit while she went out to have her hair done. On that fateful day, temperatures soared to 90 degrees. Tracey’s Lexus SUV sat parked with closed windows, creating a stifling environment.
When one of Tracey’s grandsons arrived, a sudden realization struck Tracey: Uriel had been left in the SUV for hours. Her husband, Nun Ney Nix, immediately rushed to perform CPR.
In an interview with the I-Team just days before the trial’s start, Kaila pondered the painful dilemma of justice.
“The mother in me requires justice for my kid. The mother in me needs justice for my daughter. But there’s a five-year-old that lives inside of me still; she doesn’t want anything bad for my mom. I don’t want it. I don’t want to watch it. I don’t want to be part of it. I don’t want any more hurt,” she voiced, encapsulating the complex interplay of grief and familial ties.
Kaila is anticipated to serve as a witness for the prosecution, further complicating the emotional landscape of this trial.
Earlier this month, after a judge ruled that the defense’s expert witnesses could not testify, the defense attorneys sought either a continuance or to withdraw—requests that were denied. The judge firmly stated that the court will not entertain the notion that counsel cannot effectively represent Tracey.
The jury selection for this critical trial commenced on January 13. Should she be found guilty, Tracey faces a potential sentence of up to thirty years in prison.
Continue to follow live updates throughout the day to remain informed of the latest developments.
A grandmother from Hardee County finds herself in the spotlight this week as she navigates trial after leaving her 7-month-old granddaughter in a hot car, an act that led to the baby’s untimely death. This incident is the second tragedy within her family, having already lost a grandchild under her care. Reporter Kylie McGivern from ABC Action News I-Team recently engaged with Kaila Nix, just days ahead of her mother’s trial on charges of aggravated manslaughter.
Trial begins Monday for woman who left 7-month-old granddaughter in hot car
