2 held after fentanyl overdose claims life of 1-year-old in New York nursery; 3 others still unwell

Owner of a nursery in New York City and someone living in the same building have been arrested after one-year-old boy passed away, and three other children became unwell after reportedly being exposed to a high dose of fentanyl. The police took action after fi=nding four young kids, aged from eight months to two years old, showing signs of being seriously unwell after spending time at the Divino Nino nursery in the Bronx. This happened shortly after the nursery passed an inspection by the city. A one-year-old boy named Nicholas Dominici tragically lost his life at a local hospital. Emergency responders were able to revive the other three children by giving them a medicine called Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an overdose, according to law enforcement officials. On Saturday evening, the police arrested the owner of the nursery, Grei Mendez, who is 36 years old, and a person living in the building, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, aged 41. They are facing serious charges of depraved indifference murder, assault, and illegal possession of drugs, including fentanyl.

Grei Mendez De Ventura, 36, the owner of Divino Nino Daycare, and Caristo Acevedo Brito, 41 — who lived in the basement —were hauled off to court Sunday. They face murder charges for the death of 1-year- old Nicholas Feliz Dominici and the hospitalization of three other children… pic.twitter.com/rubrBsD3pJ

— Irene BritUSA (@irenebritusa) September 17, 2023

Mendez claims she had no knowledge that this powerful drug was present at her place of business. The police found a package containing several thousand dollars’ worth of fentanyl, as well as a machine used for packing drugs, known as a “kilo press,” when they conducted a search at the nursery. This nursery, which operates from a home, had opened earlier in the year in the Kingsbridge area of the Bronx, according to reports. The drug was discovered near a mat where the children had been resting, as stated by Joseph Kenny, the chief of detectives for the New York Police Department, during a press conference on Monday evening. A second drug press was found in a nearby room where Brito was staying, according to the information provided in a criminal complaint. This daycare center had commenced operations in January of this year. Authorities confirmed that it had passed both of its inspections, including an unannounced visit by inspectors earlier in the month. One resident remarked that it was clear to them that the daycare was involved in illegal drug activities. They told the New York Post: “It was a daycare for a whole year, and there were no children. For one year, she had a daycare with no children, but people were going in. But no babies? A daycare with no children and men coming in and out. Yes, we knew something. We knew something was not right there.” Nicholas’s parents, Zoila Dominici and Otoniel Feliz, shared their grief, saying their son had just started attending the daycare a week ago. Dominici said, “He was so clever. He would repeat everything you said to him. He had so much love. Everyone who knew him loved him, all our neighbors.” New York City, like many parts of the country, has seen an increase in deaths related to opioids. The majority of these deaths are now linked to fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that can be 50 times stronger than heroin. Mayor Eric Adams, at a press conference on Saturday, emphasized that Nicholas’s death highlights the serious problem the city faces in its battle against opioids. He said, “This crisis is real, and it is a clear warning for individuals who have opioids or fentanyl in their homes. Just touching it can be deadly for an adult, and it’s extremely dangerous for a child.” The city’s medical examiner is currently investigating the cause of Nicholas’s death. (With inputs from agencies)