JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 5-month-old girl died Thursday after she was found not breathing on a bed in an unlicensed day care near the Baymeadows area of Jacksonville, authorities said.
Just after 3:30 p.m., the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was called to investigate a home on Cumberland Station Drive, which is in a neighborhood off Sunbeam Road between Philips Highway and San Jose Boulevard.
The homeowner and her 17-year-old daughter were watching eight children at the home, police said.
But while the homeowner was running errands, the 17-year-old went to check on the infant, who was taking a nap, when she realized the girl was not breathing, investigators said.
"There was one adult here at the time when the infant died. There was one teenager here. The adult had left for a bit. The child passed away while the teenager was here," JSO Sgt. Jay Farhart said. “There was a 17-year-old who went to check on the baby and change the diaper. And she realized something wasn’t right, immediately started CPR, contacted 911. They gave her instructions on how to do CPR. She is extremely upset.”
Investigators said the infant was pronounced dead at St. Vincent's Hospital South.
No foul play is suspected at this time, Farhart said. An autopsy will be conducted Friday morning to determine a cause of death.
Neighbors told News4Jax that the man who lives at the home is a bishop, and his was wife was the one who police said was operating the day care illegally.
"They keep to themselves. We would say hello to them every once in a while. But other than that, they were really nice people," Marcus Stacks said.
Stacks said he's also upset about the incident.
"My heart goes out to them. I've never experienced anything like this and I couldn't tell you how they feel. It's terrible," Stacks said.
The Department of Children and Families has been notified.