MUNCIE, IN — Delaware County sheriff’s deputy Nathan Coffey won’t face criminal charges for the 2025 death of his handicapped 10-year-old daughter, special prosecutors announced earlier this month. But his ex-wife has now filed a civil lawsuit in their daughter’s death.
Lauren Coffey’s wrongful death civil lawsuit filed June 18 asks for compensation for her losses, as well as for expenses related to their daughter’s hyperthermia death.
Nathan Coffey picked up his daughter, Aubrey Raye, from school on Aug. 14 and drove to his home in Selma, where he went inside and fell asleep, leaving Aubrey in the truck on an 85-degree day, according to Lauren Coffey’s lawsuit. It is estimated that the temperature in the truck rose to about 132 degrees.
Four hours later, Nathan Coffey went to his truck to get an archery bow and discovered his daughter dead, according to Lauren Coffey’s lawsuit.
Aubrey suffered from a severe neurodevelopmental disorder, Rett Syndrome, according to the lawsuit. She was nonverbal and “unable to communicate in the ordinary manner, walked unsteadily, had little to no dexterity or use of her hands and received much of her nutrition through a surgically placed … (feeding) tube,” the lawsuit states. “Because of her condition, Aubrey was wholly dependent upon her caregivers and was physically incapable of opening a vehicle door or otherwise removing herself from a motor vehicle.”
During his recorded 911 call, Nathan Coffey said, “I left her in the truck. I brought her home from school, and I forgot about her. … I fell asleep. … I messed up,” according to the lawsuit.
Delaware County Prosecutor Eric M. Hoffman recused his office from the case and requested a special prosecutor. Special prosecutors James Luttrell, who is Grant County prosecutor, and Christopher Gaal, former Monroe County prosecutor, announced that Coffey will not face criminal charges.
The special prosecutors determined that a distraught Coffey offered no excuses for the events that led to his daughter being left in the truck, The Star Press reported on June 10.
“Coffey said he did not know why he failed to remember to open the door and get (his daughter) out,” the special prosecutors’ report stated.
He told officials that soon after arriving home, he dealt with a 2-year-old child who was “throwing a fit.” He lay down with that child, he said, and they both fell asleep, the prosecutors’ report said.
The report noted that under state law, neglect charges are filed against individuals accused of taking actions “knowingly or intentionally.”
But Lauren Coffey alleges in her lawsuit that their daughter died from her father’s negligence. She said he failed to exercise reasonable care for the safety of Aubrey, “whom he knew to be wholly dependent and unable to protect herself.” Nathan Coffey had primary physical custody of the girl, the lawsuit said.
Lauren Coffey asks the court for damages to be determined at trial. She also asks that Nathan Coffey pay Aubrey’s funeral and burial expenses, as well as for the psychological counseling for Lauren Coffey and Aubrey’s surviving sibling.
She asks the court to order Nathan Coffey to pay her attorney’s fees and other expenses related to Aubrey’s death.
A hearing date has not yet been scheduled, according to the court docket.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ex-wife sues Delaware County sheriff’s deputy for daughter’s death
Reporting by Ron Wilkins, Muncie Star Press / Muncie Star Press
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By Ron Wilkins, Muncie Star Press | USA TODAY Network
