Daycare Provider Threw 3-Year-Old Girl to the Ground after Refusing to Take off Coat, Girl Died

A 3-year-old girl has died after a woman taking care of her at an Iowa daycare center threw her so hard to the ground after she refused to take her coat off. The woman mislead the parents into believing the girl had fallen down a flight of stairs.

Rochelle Lynn Sapp, 33, was arrested Thursday in Orange City after Autumn Elgersma died at the Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls, Iowa, according to KDLT news. The child's injuries included a fractured skull and brain trauma.

Sapp allegedly "threw her to the ground" shortly after her mom Jennifer Elgersma dropped her off at the daycare center at Sapp's home. Court documents say Sapp called the girl's mother shortly after 9am and told her Autumn had fallen down the stairs.

Mrs Elgersma picked up her daughter immediately and brought her to the Orange City hospital where she was diagnosed with a head injury, according to KTIV.

Autumn was airlifted to the Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls in North Dakota where doctors discovered the child suffered a fractured skull and brain trauma. The girl unfortunately died two dies after the incident.

Sapp was originally charged with Willful Injury and Child Endangerment Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.

Chief Pottebaum said those charges will be amended because of the child's death.

Sapp's daycare was not registered, but that isn't required in Iowa if the provider care for five or less children.

Sapp has been released from the Sioux County Jail on bond. Records do not list an attorney.