Nationwide — River Edima Wilson, a 1-year-old African American girl from New York, drowned at a Bronx day care that had previously passed multiple state inspections with no reported issues. The center is now shut down after officials later found multiple safety violations.
River died on August 1 at Anna’s Butterfly Garden Family Group in Castle Hill. State records show the facility had been inspected four times between March and May, with no violations reported. However, an inspection conducted after her death revealed nine violations, including the lack of proper barriers around a swimming pool.
According to the New York Post, the state Office of Children and Family Services revoked the day care’s license on August 6. Records show the operator, Ana Gonzalez Feliz, still faces open citations for health and safety hazards. She has not responded to the family or made any public statements.
Family lawyer James Williams said River’s parents, Ima and Ifiok Wilson, were never told about the pool until one month before her death. When they raised concerns, the day care owner assured them the pool met state requirements. Inspectors later found that the pool did not meet safety standards, noting unsecured gates, missing alarms, and improper placement near the home.
Williams condemned both the state and the facility, saying, “A one-year-old child doesn’t go unsupervised and end up in a swimming pool unless someone who was responsible for her care completely fell down on the job.”
A spokesperson for the Office of Children and Family Services declined to comment on the ongoing investigation but emphasized that protecting children in licensed programs remains the agency’s top priority.
The Wilson family is demanding answers and has called for a review of how inspections are conducted. They invited the media to River’s funeral in hopes of bringing attention to the case, as no representatives from the day care have explained what happened.
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