In a heart-wrenching incident, Nicholas Dominici, a one-year-old toddler, has tragically lost his life due to suspected fentanyl poisoning at the Divino Niño nursery in New York. Last month, Nicholas and three other children fell seriously ill, sparking an investigation into the nursery’s operations.
Grei Mendez, the center’s operator, along with her husband, Felix Herrera Garcia, and Garcia’s cousin Carlisto Brito, face charges of murder and manslaughter. The trio was apprehended on Thursday and is currently held without bail.
Present during the announcement of charges, Otoniel Feliz, Nicholas’s father, tearfully shared his shattered hopes for his son’s future. He accused the day care of betrayal, citing the trust they placed in the facility, which had promised regular updates on their children’s well-being.
The investigation took a shocking turn as law enforcement discovered a kilogram of fentanyl in a nursery wardrobe. Even more alarming, six kilograms of fentanyl, heroin, and other controlled substances were found concealed under a trap door beneath a mat used by children for napping.
Fleeing to Mexico, Garcia was arrested and subsequently extradited to New York to face charges. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark described the situation as a “catastrophe,” highlighting the children’s unwitting involvement in shielding a narcotics operation.
Andres Aranda, the attorney representing Grei Mendez, claims that his client had no knowledge of any fentanyl operation. He vehemently asserts Mendez’s innocence in the face of the serious charges brought against her.
The legal repercussions intensify as the defendants, along with an unnamed fourth person, now face federal narcotics charges in addition to the state charges of murder and manslaughter.
