Prineville, Ore. — The parents of a 20-month-old boy who died last year at a Prineville daycare are speaking publicly for the first time following a grand jury indictment in the case.
In a statement to the Prineville Review through attorney Russell Button, Zachary and Dauna Rictor described the loss of their son, Heath, as “agonizing heartbreak,” calling his death preventable and urging greater attention to childcare safety.
“There are no words to describe the agonizing heartbreak of losing our 20-month-old son, Heath,” the statement reads. “He was the light of our lives, and he had a life that mattered. His preventable death has left a void in our family that can never be filled.”
The case stems from a September incident at a local home daycare first reported by the Prineville Review and our media partners at KTVZ News, which state officials said was unlicensed and under investigation at the time of the child’s death.
The Rictors said they hope their son’s death serves as a broader warning to parents and caregivers.
“Parents must be able to trust that their children are being closely watched,” they said. “Caregivers should never take on more children than they can safely manage, and they must make sure children are never put in dangerous situations like our Heath was.”
A Crook County grand jury recently returned a manslaughter indictment in connection with the case. The Rictors described that development as an important step forward.
“We recognize the grand jury’s manslaughter indictment was a crucial first step toward accountability and justice for our son,” the statement reads. “We are grateful to the district attorney’s office, law enforcement, and first responders for their diligent work to honor Heath’s life.”
The family said they are now preparing for an arraignment scheduled for May 6th and are placing their trust in the legal process.
“We place our trust in the legal process to get justice for Heath,” they said.
No further details about the criminal case were immediately released.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
