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NYPD investigating after 20-month-old drowns at Bronx child care center
By
Charles Lane
Published Aug 5, 2025
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Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
By
Charles Lane
Published Aug 5, 2025
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Police are investigating the drowning of a 20-month-old girl at a Bronx child care center.
Police responded Friday to a 911 call to Ana's Butterfly Garden Family Group in the Bronx's Castle Hill neighborhood, according to the NYPD. The girl was found unconscious and unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at Montefiore-Einstein Medical Center, police said.
The 47-year-old day care operator told officers she was cooking food when the child got out of the house through the back screen door, police said. She told police the toddler was able to access the above-ground pool in the backyard, climbed onto the deck and into the water, officials said.
Gothamist is withholding the operator's name as no charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon. State records indicate the facility was inspected four times over the last year and cited with no violations. The operator hasn’t immediately returned a call seeking comment.
Authorities say the death appears accidental but are still investigating.
Officials with the state's Office of Children and Family Services and the city’s health department said they are investigating the incident but declined to elaborate.
A posting to the fundraising site GoFundMe that says it’s by the daughter’s mother, Ima Wilson, identifies the child as River Edima Wilson.
The Wilson family had raised more than $5,100 as of midday Tuesday.
In their fundraising appeal, they described River as "a beautiful, joyful baby — full of wonder, light, and laughter" whose "radiant smile lit up every room."
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public safety
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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