Change of Venue Denied in Mineral Point Woman’s Case

A Mineral Point woman charged in the death of a child appeared in court Friday for a change of venue hearing. 29 year old Joanna Ford a day care provider, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide and five charges of child neglect for the February 2022 death of 4-month-old Wyatt Hamlin. The judge denied the motion to change venue, meaning the the trial will remain in Iowa County. The motion was largely based on the amount of social media attention the case has received. According to the criminal complaint, Wyatt’s mother dropped him off at Ford’s house around 7:15 a.m. on February 25, 2022 and reported no drop-off issues. Kayla Case next heard from Ford around 3:30 p.m. when two videos were sent via text showing the child dressed only in a diaper and breathing rapidly. Case had Wyatt’s biological father David Hamlin pick him up from Ford’s care. The complaint alleges Hamlin noticed the child was “not looking right” when he arrived at Ford’s place. He took Wyatt home then decided to take him to the hospital. Wyatt was initially taken to Upland Hills Hospital in Dodgeville, then transferred to UW Hospital in Madison via Medflight, where he later died. Staff at American Family Children’s Hospital determined the injuries he sustained were a result of physical abuse.