KINGSBRIDGE, The Bronx (WABC) — Crime scene investigators returned Thursday to the Bronx daycare, where a 1-year-old boy died and three other children were injured after they are believed to have been exposed to fentanyl.
Investigators also returned Wednesday night and executed a search warrant for hidden drugs. They located a trap door in the floor of the apartment located in the play area where a large amount of fentanyl, other narcotics and drug paraphernalia were recovered.
Authorities already found a kilo of fentanyl stored on play mats along with a device to press drugs into bricks for sale, according to court records.
The case of the two suspects, the owner Grei Méndez, 36, and her tenant Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, returned to a Bronx criminal court where they are charged with murder in connection with the death of Nicholas Dominici. The defendants did not appear but their lawyers did and the case continued until October 5.
Additionally, on Thursday, a grand jury in the Bronx returned an indictment charging Mendez and his tenant in connection with the death of the 1-year-old boy and the poisoning of three other children. The charges remain sealed until the two appear for arraignment at a later date, but they had initially been arrested for murder.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark promised to bring justice for children.
“It may not have given birth to them, it may not have been the parents who sent them to that daycare, but every person in this county feels what they feel, that they entrusted the daycare with the care of their children,” Clark said.
Mendez and Brito remain in federal custody after being ordered held without bail in connection with federal drug trafficking charges. A search is underway for Mendez’s husband, who, according to court records, was seen on video fleeing the daycare down a back alley.
It all started when first responders were summoned last Friday afternoon to the Divino Niño daycare center for reports of cardiac arrest. Dominici died after police said he was exposed to fentanyl at the daycare.
Acevedo Brito and Mendez were charged with 11 charges, including murder, manslaughter and assault. Officials say Brito is a tenant who rented a room to Mendez and that he is a cousin of Mendez’s husband.
The defendants tried to cover up the babies’ overdoses, prosecutors said. Investigators discovered video of someone “carrying two full shopping bags” out of the daycare, leaving children suffering the effects inside and in desperate need of help.
Detectives learned that Mendez spoke with her husband several times before calling 911 immediately after the Friday afternoon tragedy. Prosecutors say Mendez deleted 20,000 text messages from her phone before she was arrested, but they were able to recover them.
“The defendants alleged that the conduct that led to those poisonings is unconscionable, it is inexcusable, and it is the reason they are now in federal custody,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.
Since July, the two accused individuals conspired to distribute fentanyl at the daycare where they maintained large quantities of fentanyl “despite the daily presence of children, including infants,” according to the complaint.
Authorities say the defendants also had kilo presses at the daycare, which are designed for the recompression of powdered drugs commonly used by drug dealers in factories or other places where drugs break down, combined with fillers or other narcotics, and in portions for sale.
“As a result of the defendants’ drug conspiracy, on or about September 15, 2023, at the daycare center, four children, all under the age of three, appeared to have experienced the effects of poisoning from fentanyl exposure. Three “Most of the children were hospitalized with serious injuries. The fourth child, a one-year-old boy, died,” the complaint reads.
Mendez called 911 at 2:40 p.m. to report that the children in her care were unresponsive. Dominici was pronounced dead at the hospital, where the others, who range in age from 8 months to 2 years, were administered Narcan. A urine analysis of one of the victims confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the child’s body.
Frank Tarentino of the DEA said fentanyl now represents the “most urgent threat” facing the nation.
“Fentanyl is extremely dangerous,” said New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan. “I use the word exquisitely because I have no other word to describe how dangerous this drug is.”
An emotional mayor, Eric Adams, expressed outrage over the crime earlier this week.
“It’s totally crazy that we lost a child to this dangerous substance,” Adams said. “And we almost lost four children to this dangerous substance. There needs to be a total national attack on this drug coming into our city.”
Prosecutors said Mendez participated in the “reckless and depraved act” by renting the room at the daycare to Brito.
Mendez’s lawyer said his client did not know that her husband’s cousin, to whom she rented a room for $200 a week, stored drugs in his daycare.
“His only crime was renting his room to someone who had a kilo,” said lawyer Andrés Aranda. “There is no evidence that she did anything other than adequately care for these children.”
SEE | St. Barnabas emergency room doctor explains the dangers of fentanyl for children and what to do in an emergency on Eyewitness News Mornings @ 10.
The daycare, for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, recently opened in January and just passed a surprise visit by city inspectors last week with no violations found.
When asked if the circumstances leading up to the incident went unnoticed, Adams insisted that the city did its job and that inspections, including the surprise visit, and background checks were conducted.
“Those who didn’t do their jobs are the people who were there to protect the children,” Adams said. “Part of this relationship is based on trust, that those who care for our children will do so safely. They broke that trust.”
After the children were taken from daycare, the fire department tested the air for environmental hazards and found no evidence of carbon monoxide. Officers then began to suspect opioid exposure and executed a search warrant to search the rooms, cabinets and other spaces where a drug packaging device was found.
A recent court filing showed Mendez was several thousand dollars behind on rent for 2707 Morris Ave..
NEW YORK CITY RESOURCE FOR PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS: Choosing Child Care in New York City
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