A mother and daughter in California were charged with involuntary manslaughter after the death of a 3-month-old child in their unlicensed daycare facility. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office reported that emergency responders were called to a Royal Oaks address on Friday morning, where the infant was found unresponsive. Despite attempts to revive the child, the infant was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to the hospital.
Maria Marquez, 62, and her daughter Johanna Marquez, 35, were operating the daycare without a license and had up to 30 children in their care. Authorities gathered enough evidence to charge both women with involuntary manslaughter, along with felony child endangerment and operating a daycare facility illegally. They are currently held in the Monterey County Jail with bail set at $50,000 each; however, it is unclear if they have legal representation.
The case has prompted an ongoing investigation by the sheriff’s office. The California Department of Social Services regulates licensed daycare operations, which have stringent requirements for staff training, including pediatric CPR, first-aid training, and child development education. Child fatalities in licensed facilities are exceedingly rare, with only three reported incidents between 2017 and 2023, emphasizing the importance of adhering to state regulations.
Sheriff’s Commander Andres Rosas highlighted that strict standards and regular inspections provide parents with peace of mind regarding the safety of their children in licensed facilities. The tragic incident at the unlicensed daycare underscores the potential dangers associated with unregulated childcare environments.
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