Olathe ? The former operator of an Olathe day care has been found guilty in the suffocation death of an 18-month-old girl.

A Johnson County jury on Wednesday convicted 47-year-old Jeanette Lawrence on charges of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated child endangerment and operating a registered day care center with too many children.

Ava Patrick died in April 2009 at Lawrence’s day care when her neck got caught in the slats of a wooden fence.

Defense lawyer Christopher Williams said the death was an accident.

The child’s parents testified in favor of a state law passed this year that toughens restrictions on day care centers. It also requires the state to create an online information system for open records on child care.