A four-month-old baby girl died Tuesday at a daycare center in the Santa Juanita neighborhood of Bayamón, Puerto Rico, while authorities await autopsy results. The Departamento de la Familia said its Oficina de Licenciamiento and Unidad de Maltrato Institucional visited the facility Wednesday to evaluate compliance with protocols and requirements, and said it will continue collaborating with authorities pending autopsy findings.
Maricely Ortiz, president of the Asociación de Centros de Cuidado y Desarrollo del Niño (Asocuida)—which represents 125 private childcare centers across the island serving more than 30,000 children—expressed condolences to the family and to the staff who experienced the incident, but noted the daycare involved is not affiliated with Asocuida. She said the organization would not comment further out of respect for the ongoing investigation, while asserting that the Departamento de la Familia maintains rigorous licensing, accreditation and compliance inspection processes, and that Asocuida-affiliated centers follow established health and safety protocols.
According to the police investigation, employees at the daycare went to feed the infant and found she was unresponsive; they began CPR and called 9-1-1, according to Lt. Edwin Avilés, who spoke to WAPA TV.