Tragedy Strikes: Child’s Death Linked to Fentanyl Exposure at NYC Daycare
In a heartbreaking incident that shook New York City, a 1-year-old child tragically lost their life last Friday, likely due to exposure to fentanyl at a local daycare center. The unfolding investigation into this opioid case unearthed a startling discovery: nearly two pounds of fentanyl, valued at around $7,000, were found within the confines of the Bronx daycare facility.
The owner of the daycare center, Grei Mendez, has asserted her complete ignorance of the presence of these dangerous drugs. She pointed to one of her tenants, Carlist Acevedo Brito, as a possible source of the illicit substances.
A package containing thousands of dollars worth of fentanyl was discovered inside the New York City daycare center where a 1-year-old child tragically succumbed to toxic opioid exposure just last week, according to information provided by the police and city officials.
Mendez continues to maintain her innocence, claiming no knowledge of the highly potent drug’s presence. This harrowing situation sickened three other young children, including an 8-month-old girl who tested positive for fentanyl. Authorities discovered traces of the drug beneath a mat where the children had been napping, as confirmed by Joseph Kenny, Chief of Detectives for the New York Police Department.
In response to these developments, Grei Mendez, who operated the Divino Niño daycare inside her Bronx apartment, pleaded not guilty to murder charges stemming from the death of Nicholas Dominici. Her tenant, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, aged 41, awaits arraignment on the same set of charges.
The police recovered roughly one kilogram of fentanyl, along with a device used to combine the drug with other narcotics, from a closet connected to the apartment’s hallway. Another similar device was found inside Brito’s adjoining room, as outlined in the criminal complaint.
During a press conference, New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed frustration and disbelief that adults would introduce fentanyl into an environment with children present. He underscored the deadly nature of even a tiny amount of pure fentanyl for adults, labeling the situation as “total madness.”
Mendez’s attorney, Andres Aranda, clarified that she lived above the daycare center and rented a room to Brito, her husband’s cousin, for $200 per month. New York permits home-based daycare centers for a limited number of children, provided they meet licensing and inspection requirements.
According to Aranda, the apartment saw visitors coming and going when the daycare was not in operation. On the day of the incident, things seemed ordinary, with Mendez tending to the children by reading to them, cooking meals, and putting them down for naps. However, when Dominici failed to wake up from his nap, Mendez became alarmed, immediately calling 911 and seeking help from neighbors.
Mendez, aged 36 and also working as a home health aide, was remanded to Rikers Island without bail after her Sunday night arraignment. As of the time of reporting, there was no response from Brito’s attorney.
The daycare facility commenced operations in January of the same year and passed both scheduled inspections, including an unannounced visit by inspectors on September 6.
Emergency responders found Dominici, an 8-month-old girl, and a 2-year-old boy displaying symptoms of opioid intoxication when they arrived at the apartment on that fateful Friday afternoon. Narcan, an overdose-reversing medication, was administered to all three, successfully mitigating symptoms in the 8-month-old and 2-year-old. Tragically, Dominici was pronounced dead later that day at a Bronx hospital.
Another child who had attended the daycare was taken to a hospital by her mother due to signs of opioid exposure, including breathing difficulties and unresponsiveness.
The exact means by which the children were exposed to the drugs remains unclear. The cause and manner of Dominici’s death are pending further examination, as confirmed by the city’s medical examiner’s office.
Fentanyl, an immensely potent synthetic opioid, stands as a primary contributor to the alarming surge in overdose deaths, both nationally and within New York City. Illegally produced fentanyl is frequently mixed with other substances like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine to amplify its potency. The tragic rise of unintentional drug overdoses among children further underscores the severity of this issue, with opioids being the most common contributors to fatal poisonings among young individuals.
Notably, a 2019 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that, in the vast majority of cases, children had ingested these substances orally, rather than through contact or inhalation.