ORLANDO, Fla. _ The owner of the Orlando day care center where a 3-year-old boy died begged his family for forgiveness Wednesday during a news conference, and she said she was going to fight to keep her business open.
"I'm so sorry," co-owner Audrey Thornton said before naming several of the boy's family members. "I don't want y'all to be upset with me. I loved Myles. I took care of him since he was a baby."
Thornton was crying, her voice cracking as she spoke in front of reporters at her attorney Robert Nesmith's office in downtown Orlando.
They declined to answer questions about how Myles Hill was left in a hot van for nearly 12 hours at Little Miracles Academy, citing an ongoing investigation.
Myles was found dead on the floor in the back seat Monday night after being left behind by a day care worker Monday morning in the Little Miracles Academy's parking lot.
The driver picked up Myles and other children Monday morning and took some to the day care center's Colonial Drive facility before parking the van at the Plymouth Avenue location.
The driver, who has not been named, admitted not doing a head count; charges are pending against her, Orlando police said.
The state Department of Children and Families said Tuesday that it was looking to close both facilities permanently. But Thornton said she wanted to remain open.
"I'm a fighter," she said. "Anyone that knows me knows I'm going to fight for what's mine. I'm going to fight to keep it open. I'm not going to give it up like that. It was a mistake."
Thornton said she had just got home when she received the call about what happened.
"I was just hurt," she said. "It was devastated knowing this could happen."
Bryant Thornton, who is listed as a co-owner of the day care in state records, was not at the news conference.
But Myles' great-aunt Barbara Livingston said, "Sorry is not gonna cut it." She wants to see the driver and Thornton charged.
"It's pitiful," she said. "They tell you don't leave your dogs in the car. How are they going to leave a child?"
DCF lays out guidelines about what day care centers must do when transporting children.
A log must be kept about who gets into the vehicle, and the day care worker must check off each child as he or she gets off, according to DCF.
The driver must sign and date the log and must do a visual sweep of the vehicle, DCF said.
It's not clear what paperwork was completed Monday.
Thornton said the driver has been fired.
In July, the day care center was cited for not keeping destination and arrival times and locations. DCF noted in the inspection report that the problem was taken care of right away, although it is not clear what the Little Miracles Academy actually did. It was one of five violations for the Plymouth Avenue location since 2015, according to DCF records. The Colonial Drive location was inspected Aug. 1 and had no violations.
Family members remembered Myles as an active boy who enjoyed playing on his tablet and being with family.
Thornton said Myles was a smart and loving boy.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Records show that Thornton filed in 2009 to open the business on Plymouth Avenue; the center can care for nearly 30 children.
The other location, 2514 W. Colonial Drive, opened in 2014 and has a capacity of about 140 children.
