Current:Home > MarketsTwo arrested in fentanyl-exposure death of 1-year-old at Divino Niño daycare -OceanicInvest
Two arrested in fentanyl-exposure death of 1-year-old at Divino Niño daycare
View
Date:2025-04-27 17:43:21
Two people have been arrested and charged in the death of a 1-year-old who was exposed to fentanyl at a Bronx daycare center along with three other children.
Grei Mendez, 36, who ran the Divino Niño daycare center, and Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, her cousin-in-law who rented a room from her, were both arrested on Saturday.
Police found two boys, 1 and 2, and an 8-month-old girl unconscious after they were called to the daycare center on Friday afternoon, NYPD Chief Detective Joseph Kenny said at a press briefing. First responders administered Narcan to all three children after they were determined to be exhibiting signs of a drug overdose.
1-year-old Nicholas Dominici died at Montefiore Hospital later that afternoon, while the two other children recovered.
Another 2-year-old boy from the daycare was checked into BronxCare Hospital after his mother noticed he was "lethargic and unresponsive" and recovered after being administered Narcan.
A police search of the daycare center turned up a kilo press, a device used to package large amounts of drugs. Authorities also found a kilo of fentanyl in a closet, according to court documents.
Mendez faces multiple charges, including manslaughter, criminal possession of drugs, and depraved indifference to murder. She is being held without bail and will appear in court again on Thursday.
Andres Aranda, who is representing Mendez, did not return a request for comment from USA TODAY. At Mendez' arraignment, Aranda said Mendez was unaware that there were any drugs in the building.
“It's a tragedy for the children," he said at the arraignment, according to CBS News. "It's a tragedy for her because I don't believe she's involved in what happened, so it's really bad all around for everybody."
Zoila Dominici, the mother of Nicholas Dominici, told the New York Times she had toured the daycare center and saw nothing "out of the ordinary."
“God gave him to me, and now he’s gone. I have to thank God for the time we had with him," she said.
An annual unannounced search of the daycare center by the Department of Health earlier this month did not find any violations.
"This is a new site that was opened in January of just this year, and had its routine inspections: two, in the beginning in order to get its license, and one surprise visit — that was the September 9th site — and no violations were found," said Commissioner Ashwin Vasan of the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Given its strength, even a tiny amount of fentanyl could cause the death of a child who came into contact with it, according to Julie Gaither, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine.
"Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin, which is in itself more potent than most prescription opioids," Gaither told USA TODAY. "It takes only a miniscule amount of fentanyl to kill a child and to send them into respiratory distress and respiratory arrest, and to become unresponsive very quickly."
According to a study released by Gaither earlier this year, fentanyl was blamed in 94% of opioid overdose deaths in children in 2021, up from just 5% in 1999.
"It's growing, and it's no longer a problem just for the older teens, those who who would be likely to misuse fentanyl," Gaither said. "We're increasingly seeing very young children exposed."
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- Ohio set to decide constitutional amendment establishing a citizen-led redistricting commission
- Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr must win reelection to return to the House floor after 2023 sanction
- Casey and McCormick square off in Pennsylvania race that could determine Senate control
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Lisa Blunt Rochester could make history with a victory in Delaware’s US Senate race
- Jason Kelce apologizes for role in incident involving heckler's homophobic slur
- These farm country voters wish presidential candidates paid them more attention
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Colin Allred, Ted Cruz reach end of Senate race that again tests GOP dominance in Texas
Ranking
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Selena Gomez Claps Back at “Sick” Body-Shaming Comments After Emilia Perez Premiere
- Rudy Giuliani ordered to appear in court after missing deadline to turn over assets
- North Dakota measures would end local property taxes and legalize recreational marijuana
- North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
- West Virginians’ governor choices stand on opposite sides of the abortion debate
- Republican incumbent Josh Hawley faces Democrat Lucas Kunce for US Senate seat in Missouri
- 1000-Lb. Sisters’ Tammy Slaton Addresses Rumors Sister Amy Slaton Is Pregnant
Recommendation
A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
US Rep. John Curtis is favored to win Mitt Romney’s open Senate seat in Utah
Four likely tornadoes in Oklahoma and Arkansas with no deaths or injuries reported
Central Michigan voters are deciding 2 open congressional seats in the fight for the US House
Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
Ruby slippers from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ are for sale nearly 2 decades after they were stolen
America reaches Election Day and a stark choice between Trump and Harris
Colin Allred, Ted Cruz reach end of Senate race that again tests GOP dominance in Texas