Investigation underway after 1-year-old girl drowns at home day care in the Bronx
CASTLE HILL, Bronx (WABC) -- An investigation is underway after authorities say a 1-year-old girl drowned after climbing into a pool at an at-home day care in the Bronx last week.
It happened last Friday at Ana's Butterfly Garden Family Group, which is located at 2117 Story Ave. in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx.
The 47-year-old day care operator told police she was cooking food when the child, later identified as River Wilson, got out of the house through the back screen door.
Wilson, who was 20 months old, was somehow able to access the above-ground pool in the back yard, climbed onto deck and into the water.
She was found unconscious and unresponsive and was pronounced dead at Montefiore-Einstein Medical Center.
The woman believes she was away from the child for about 20 minutes.
"River was a beautiful, joyful baby-full of wonder, light, and laughter. Her radiant smile lit up every room, and her sweet spirit brought immense love to everyone around her. Though her time with us was heartbreakingly short, the love she gave and inspired will never fade," the Wilson family said in a GoFundMe for their daughter.
State records show the day care, which operates out of the first floor of a private home, was licensed in 2018.
Its last unannounced inspection on May 14 returned no violations, but violations were found during an annual inspection on March 7, 2023.
Inspectors noted "children cannot be left without competent supervision at any time," indicating there was a lapse in supervision.
Records show the issue was corrected. Inspectors returned several times thereafter and reported no violations.
The Bronx day care operator has retained an attorney and is declining to answer further questions from investigators.
Eyewitness News attempted to reach the day care owner at the premises and by phone but had no luck -- similar to what Wilson's family said they have experienced, writing in part:
"The daycare has compounded the pain of River's passing by completely ignoring the family's efforts to contact them. River's family deserves to know what happened to their baby girl."
The child's grandfather said he was excited about her future.
"She was really special to us. Very special. I was looking forward to a really great girl," he said. "River was really - I'm truly telling you - a special child."
The death is under investigation by detectives and the Bronx District Attorneys Office.
The city health department and the state's Office of Children and Family Services, which regulates day cares, are also investigating.
"The safety and well-being of all children in OCFS-licenseddaycareprograms is our top priority. OCFS cannot comment on an active investigation," the Office of Children and Family Services said in a statement.
Preliminarily, there is no criminality suspected and it appears to be an accidental drowning, but the family wants someone held responsible.
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