PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Charges against a woman who ran a daycare that caught fire with nine children inside could be dismissed next week.
The fate of Dewanna Seward rests in the hands of a judge, and will be decided on Tuesday, Aug. 29.
The fire occurred on April 20, 2022 in a townhome in Portsmouth.
“I was devastated because I left my child with someone I trusted," said Kashayla Bric, whose then-6-year-old daughter was in the daycare at the time of the fire.
She and family members of other kids who were in the daycare spoke to reporters outside the courthouse after learning the case could be dismissed.
“It’s a bunch of emotions because I feel like if that was someone else’s child or her child, what would you have done? It’s not funny," said Bric. "I’m just pissed off."
News
Portsmouth townhome that caught fire, leaving 7 children hospitalized, is licensed as daycare
Cameras were not allowed in court as Seward faced her charges.
Seaward’s bench trial began Thursday morning with the commonwealth attempting to call a witness, but Seward’s attorney objected, saying he was not provided with a witness list during discovery.
“I knew for months that they had not provided a witness list in the case, so I was going to wait until they called their first witness to make the objection which is what I did," said Seward's attorney Michael Massie.
He also took issue with the commonwealth’s handling of the medical records of the kids involved. He said they were not requested by the commonwealth until Aug. 9 and were not delivered to him until Aug. 20.
“I think that was part of the frustration with the court. If you’re going to try to comply with the rules, why would you wait until August of this year when you have an August trial date?" Massie asked.
After questions from the judge about the witness list, the commonwealth ultimately asked to dismiss the charges, and the judge agreed to take the case under advisement until Aug. 29. She also noted issues like this are a recurring problem with the Commonwealth's Attorney’s Office.
On the 29th, the judge is expected to decide if the charges will just be dismissed or dismissed with prejudice. If they’re dismissed with prejudice, they cannot be brought back in the future.
News 3 asked Bric what she would say to Seaward if she could talk to her.
“I would say 'You know what you did. Take accountability,'” said Seward.
Seward's 19 charges included child abuse and neglect, child cruelty, and unlawful wounding.
The fire took place in Charlestowne Condominiums, on April 20, 2022, where seven of nine children involved were hospitalized.
Seward was operating the daycare inside of her home called Indoor/Outdoor Reach LLC. Nine children were inside the home at the time of the fire, with no adults or parents present.
According to court documents, Seward had been out on bond, but was not allowed to supervise any child who is under the age of 14.
The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office declined to provide an official statement on Thursday's proceedings, saying the case is still ongoing.
We will keep you updated on what is learned from the next court hearing.
