Fairfield day care operator in court over death of 4-month-old boy

FAIRFIELD, Connecticut (WABC) -- The operator of an unlicensed Connecticut day care where a baby died in March appeared in court Thursday for her arraignment.

Carol Cardillo, 53, is charged with manslaughter, reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor. She was released on $250,000 bond after her arrest.

On March 22, 4-month-old Adam Seagull was found unresponsive at the center Cardillo ran in her Fairfield home.

Investigators said the infant had high levels of an antihistamine drug in his system, one that should not be given to children under the age of 2.

Adam's death was ruled a homicide after the state medical examiner found high levels of diphenhydramine in the baby's system. It was initially ruled accidental, the result of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. There were no signs of trauma, and the baby had not been sick. An autopsy concluded the baby died from acute diphenhydramine intoxication.

The day care was immediately shut down following the child's death.

Cardillo had reportedly been running the facility at her home for 11 years, and police said at the time of her arrest that she purchased about 90 bottles of allergy medication over a three-year period and that she may have administered it to other children as well.

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine drug that should not be administered to children under the age of 2, and should only be administered to children between the age of 2 and 4 years old after consultation with a doctor.

Thursday was the first time the child's parents were seeing the day care provider since their son's death, as they made the trip to Bridgeport for the court proceeding.

"I had said that when we found out the truth, hearing that was like he had died all over again," said the victim's father Matthew Seagull. "So this is the first time that we were able to face the woman who's charged with this, so we felt it was very important for us to be here."

Cardillo is free on bail. Her next court appearance is Dec. 4, and the Seagulls say they plan to be there.