Bond reduced for woman accused in toddler's day care van death

Deborah St. Charles, 51, arrested in death of Myles Hill

ORLANDO, Fla. – The woman accused in the death of a 3-year-old boy who died in August after being left in a hot day care van had her bond reduced at a hearing on Thursday.             

The judge lowered the bond for Deborah St. Charles, 51, from $30,000 to $2,500.          

Additionally, St. Charles will be allowed to be released to stay with her friend, Patrice Phillips, in Apopka until her trial per a Department of Children and Families inspection.             

Phillips has a 14-year-old child and St. Charles is not allowed to be around children under the age of 18. Phillips has been taking care of St. Charles' 14-year-old son while she's been in jail.

"I immediately thought about the boys because the are my connection to her." Phillips said on Thursday.

Police said St. Charles was the driver of the Little Miracles Academy van in which Myles Hill died.

St. Charles is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child.    

"We want to try and get her out. This would be like your mom being in trouble who has never been in trouble." said St. Charles' attorney, Jeff Deen.

The judge also required St. Charles to surrender her passport and not have any contact with any child under 18 years of age, if released.

Last month, counsel for St. Charles withdrew a competency motion. 

A pretrial conference date is set for April 17, and her trial begins on April 30. 


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