HOMESTEAD, Fla. – An investigation is ongoing after a 10-month-old baby died on Monday.
The child was at the Lincoln-Marti Child Care on Krome Avenue and Sixth Street in Homestead.
Local 10 News has learned a worker found a baby unresponsive Monday afternoon.
Authorities said the infant was airlifted to Kendall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Miami-Dade police said an employee was doing rounds, checking on children and found the baby boy unresponsive.
Local 10 News’ Christian De La Rosa spoke to the child’s grandparents, who identified him as 10-month-old Tayvon Tomlin.
His grandfather, Sean Tomlin, who just saw the baby earlier Monday morning, was in complete shock.
“It was probably a little after 1. My son called me frantic and he was on his way to the hospital. (He) told me that the baby wasn’t breathing,” Tomlin said. “This morning when I played with him, he was up and happy and energetic, so that’s why I don’t understand, that’s why I’m trying to get answers now because he was energetic this morning when I played with him, like I do every morning when his father gets him ready.”
Tuesday noon report:
Family members eventually spoke with detectives inside the daycare in hopes of learning more about what happened.
They came out with more questions, though.
“She got ready to feed them the bottles and he was laying there with his eyes open, and she went to check him but he was not responsive,” said family member Fredericka McMilian. “There’s no explanation because is no cameras in the room, I don’t understand that. Why would you not have a camera in the baby room? That’s the most important place in there.”
Monday report:
Lincoln-Marti Child Care sent a statement to Local 10 which read:
“As a result of a medical emergency, this afternoon a child was transported from a Lincoln-Marti childcare center in Homestead by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. It was later learned that the child passed away. Lincoln-Marti is working with the authorities to determine what caused this tragic situation and offers its sincere condolences to the family. Out of respect for their privacy, no further comment will be made at this time.”
Throughout that afternoon, concerned parents arrived to pick up their children from the daycare.
The daycare remained open Tuesday, and employees did not comment when Local 10 News stopped by.
Parents expressed concerns about what happened.
“I asked them what happened and no one gives men a explanation of what happened,” parent Jaylene Roque said. “I would like to know how my kids were being treated in that school. I would like to know if it was something that had to do with a teacher or if it was more like a kid’s health.”
Some parents said, owing to the lack of communication and answers from the daycare, they are transferring their children to another school.
Authorities have yet to reveal any information on the baby’s cause of death.
Family members set up a GoFundMe account to assist with expenses.