A heartbreaking event occurred at a daycare facility in the Kingsbridge area on a recent Friday afternoon, leading to the death of a toddler and the hospitalization of three other children. Law enforcement officials believe the children may have consumed fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. The four children, two 2-year-old boys, an 8-month-old girl, and the deceased 1-year-old boy, were discovered unconscious in the basement of the Divino Nino daycare on Morris Avenue.
Reports indicate that the children had been put down for their afternoon naps and were expected to wake up around 2:30 p.m. They had all eaten something roughly an hour and a half earlier. Emergency services were alerted to the situation around 2:40 p.m., and the children were quickly transported to nearby hospitals. Tragically, the 1-year-old boy did not survive, while the other three children are currently in stable condition.
Narcan, a drug used to counteract opioid overdoses, was administered to three of the children, with one child showing a positive response to the treatment. The 8-month-old girl also received treatment for dehydration. The authorities are now investigating whether fentanyl or another drug played a role in this tragic incident.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a daycare worker scream for help upon discovering the unconscious children. Local residents described the daycare as a reputable and well-maintained facility, capable of accommodating up to eight children ranging in age from six weeks to 12 years old. Divino Nino Day Care had recently passed an unannounced inspection without any violations.
As the investigation progresses, a search warrant has been executed at the daycare center, and a decontamination tent has been erected outside the building. The community is reeling from the shock and grief over the loss of a young life and the distressing events that transpired at the daycare.