New York City Police arrested a Bronx daycare owner and charged her Saturday in the suspected opioid overdose death of a child after authorities said they found drug-making equipment at the business.
Grei Mendez, 36, is facing 11 charges, including murder, manslaughter and assault in connection to the death of 1-year-old Nicholas Dominici on Friday, police said.
Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, is facing identical charges. Mr. Brito is a cousin of Ms. Mendez’s husband, and was renting a room at the home-based daycare.
Police said an 8-month-old girl and a pair of 2-year-old boys were taken to a hospital for suspected opioid exposure. Medical officials used Narcan to revive the unresponsive children.
Authorities are investigating the children’s possible drug exposure after they discovered a kilo press at the daycare. The device is used to combine fentanyl with other substances, such as cocaine and heroin.
“This is an item that is commonly used by drug dealers when packaging large quantities of drugs,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said during a press conference.
The exact cause of Nicholas’ death and the other children’s conditions are still being investigated, according to police Commissioner Edward Caban.
“My heart is broken,” Otoniel Feliz, the 32-year-old father of Nicholas, told The New York Daily News. “I have no words to express how I’m feeling now. Nobody expects to send your kids to a safe place … and next you have a phone call saying ‘Your child has died.’”
Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the city’s health commissioner, said Friday during a press conference that the daycare passed a surprise health inspection on Sept. 9. The daycare also passed its routine inspections as part of its opening in January.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is joining the investigation into Nicholas’ death.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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