1-year-old girl found dead in Bronx daycare pool. Here's the latest on the investigation.
A 1-year-old was found dead in a pool at a Bronx daycare center late last week, police said Monday.
The little girl, identified as River Wilson, was an only child.
What police say happened
Police say they were called to the daycare on Story Avenue, just around the corner from the child's home, on Friday afternoon for an unresponsive child.
Police sources say River was found by the caretaker in the pool out back. The caretaker allegedly told police she was cooking and noticed she hadn't seen the child in some time.
Sources say she told the investigators she looked, but the child was not in the building.
That's when a call for help prompted a former police officer to jump into action.
"We heard screaming and yelling," he said. "We went through the backyard area and that's when we saw the baby on the platform of the pool, and that's when I just started doing CPR."
The former officer said he performed CPR on the 1-year-old for several minutes before first responders arrived.
"It felt like forever," he said.
River was pronounced dead at the hospital. The medical examiner will determine the cause.
A man who identified himself as an inspector with the Office of Children and Family Services, was seen entering the family's home on Monday.
State records show the daycare was granted a license in 2018, and on March 7, 2023, state inspectors dropped by the business unannounced and found competent supervision was not maintained at all times, which is a violation.
Inspectors returned four times after the violation and found the daycare to be in compliance.
"Negligence, that's all I can say"
The 1-year-old's aunt, Ezinne Ijomah, was asked about her understanding of what happened.
"Negligence. That's all I can say," Ijomah said.
The child's mother visited her daughter's memorial outside of the daycare and told CBS News New York she's very upset. The family shared video from a vigil held Sunday night, and the family attorney released a statement that says, in part, "The family of River Wilson is devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. They are living every parent's worst nightmare."
The family went on to say the daycare failed the family.
One neighbor described the scene at the daycare.
"The mother came and she was devastated, like you could just hear her wallowing in screams," Edward Shoman said.
CBS News New York reached out to the Office of Children and Family Services, which said it cannot comment on active investigations. It did release the following statement, which says, in part, "The safety and well-being of all children in OCFS-licensed daycare programs is our top priority."
River Wilson remembered as "joyful and "happy" child
Stunned neighbors lit candles and placed items outside the daycare. Ijomah said River would have turned 2 in November.
"River was ... sorry ... River was joyful. She was a happy baby," Ijomah said. "She was at one point taking swimming lessons, so she was, I guess, familiar. She loved the water."
The family said River's funeral is expected to take place on Aug. 13.