Police Find More Fentanyl In Bronx Daycare Trap Floor After Toddler’s Tragic Death

After a 1-year-old boy died and three other children were hospitalized last week after being exposed to fentanyl, police officers said they found a trap floor with drugs at the daycare center where the tragedy took place.

According to ABC News, police officers were informed that there was a trap door in the floor at the Bronx daycare center where the child died. Officials said they searched the Divino Niño daycare center on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21 and discovered a large amount of fentanyl, other narcotics, and drug paraphernalia.

As part of an ongoing overdose fatality investigation in a Bronx daycare center on 9/15/23, a search warrant was conducted by @NYPDDetectives. A large quantity of Fentanyl, other narcotics, & drug paraphernalia was recovered in a trap floor in the play area at the daycare center. https://t.co/VycTB9hzpx pic.twitter.com/ZwaeukUHqS

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) September 21, 2023

Investigators had already discovered a kilo of fentanyl that had been stored on play mats at the daycare center, along with a device that pressed drugs into bricks for sale, according to court records.

Nicholas Dominici died Friday, and the three other children at Divino Niño, who range in age from 8 months to 2 years, were taken to the hospital. They were treated with Narcan and are recovering. Fentanyl was found in the urine of one of the victims, officials confirmed.

Two people are being held on federal charges of narcotics possession with intent to distribute resulting in death, and conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death.

Grei Mendez, the operator of the daycare center, and Carlisto Acevedo Brito, a tenant in the building, are currently being held without bail. Both were arrested and charged on state charges including murder. Their next scheduled court date is Oct. 5. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said they were indicted by a grand jury.

Mendez’s attorney claims she was unaware that Brito, her husband’s cousin, was storing drugs in the building. Police are looking for her husband, who, according to court records, was seen on video fleeing the building out of a back alley, carrying two trash bags.