3 charged with murder in toddler’s fentanyl death at NYC day care

NEW YORK (AP) — Nicholas Dominici’s dad stated he had hoped to have a photograph of his son’s kindergarten commencement 4 years from now.

“However sadly what I’ve is a reminder of his dying,” Otoniel Feliz stated, weeping as he held up a photograph of his son. The toddler died final month after he and three different younger kids have been sickened by what officers stated was publicity to fentanyl at their Bronx day care heart.

Feliz joined Bronx District Legal professional Darcel Clark and different officers as they introduced the indictments on prices together with homicide and manslaughter of the middle’s operator, her husband and the husband’s cousin in Dominici’s dying. He was 22 months outdated and had spent only some days on the Divino Niño day care heart when he died on Sept. 15.

Clark stated day care operator Grei Mendez, 36, her husband, Felix Herrera Garcia, 34, and Carlisto Brito, 41, have been arraigned Thursday and ordered held with out bail.

Mendez and Brito have been arrested after Dominici and three different kids below Mendez’s care confirmed indicators of opioid publicity. Herrera Garcia, who authorities say fled to Mexico, was arrested there after which extradited to New York.

Dominici was pronounced lifeless at a hospital. The opposite three kids, ranging in age from 8 months to 2 years outdated, have been handled for what authorities stated was fentanyl publicity.

Investigators stated a kilogram (2.2 kilos) of fentanyl was present in a closet within the day care heart and 6 kilograms (13.23 kilos) of fentanyl, heroin and different managed substances have been discovered below a lure door within the flooring beneath a padded mat the place kids napped.

“It is a disaster,” Clark stated. “Our sorrow is matched solely by the outrage as a result of these infants have been used as shields to guard a narcotics operation.”

Clark stated the kids “are my kids, they’re our kids and it’s our accountability to verify we do all that we will to maintain them protected and to guard them.”

Andres Aranda, an lawyer for Mendez, stated his consumer knew nothing of any fentanyl operation. “She isn’t responsible,” he stated.

Messages searching for remark have been left with attorneys for Brito and Herrera Garcia.

The defendants and a fourth individual additionally face federal narcotics prices.

Feliz, Dominici’s father, spoke alternately in Spanish and English as he described how Mendez had earned his belief over the little boy’s transient time on the day care heart.

“We really feel betrayed by that day care,” he stated, “as a result of they might ship us pictures, would ship us textual content messages with every little thing that occurred all through the day. We trusted them as a result of we noticed it was a spot that may maintain us knowledgeable.”

Feliz thanked these engaged on the case, however stated, “Every little thing that’s performed won’t carry my son again.”