Bronx Day Care Center Closed Following Tragic Drowning Incident

A day care center in the Bronx, where a 20-month-old girl drowned earlier this month, has been shut down by state inspectors. The closure came after an investigation revealed multiple violations, particularly concerning inadequate safety measures around a pool.

Anna’s Butterfly Garden Family Group in Castle Hill was abruptly closed on August 6, despite a childcare inspector previously stating that the facility had passed four inspections in the months leading up to the tragic incident involving Little River Ejima Wilson.

Reports from the state Children and Family Services Office indicate that they oversee child care facilities throughout the Empire State, including the one associated with Wilson’s heartbreaking case.

According to family lawyer James Williams, “The day care center was apparently tested in May. Yet, in August, there were at least nine violations that contributed to the drowning.” He expressed hope that state regulators would take a more thorough approach to inspections, adding, “I really hope it’s not just a matter of the state missing something.”

Williams criticized the day care for what he termed “significant negligence.” He pointed out that a child that young shouldn’t have been near a pool unless someone was watching closely, saying, “If the caregivers are not attentive, it’s just dangerous.”

The operator, Anagonzalez Ferris, has not publicly addressed the tragedy and hasn’t responded to inquiries from River’s family. Following the closure, the day care’s license was revoked due to various health and safety hazards, including failure to notify parents of accidents involving children.

A review of the inspection history shows that the facility had been inspected multiple times between March and May 2024, with no violations noted until after the August incident.

During the final inspection, inspectors identified nine serious breaches of safety regulations. One violation stated, “Barriers must exist to prevent children from accessing swimming pools, drains, wells, ponds, or other bodies of water.”

While some reports claimed that children were always under “competent supervision,” the center’s inability to promptly notify parents about serious incidents was also highlighted. A spokesperson for the state agency refrained from commenting on the investigation, emphasizing that the safety of children remains paramount.

Williams mentioned that the family is still seeking answers. They invited media coverage to River’s funeral, hoping to shine a light on perceived failures in the system. “The media presence is a way to ensure that daycare operators are held accountable and that the family can finally learn the truth,” he remarked.

The lawyer also noted that IMA and Ifiok Wilson, River’s parents, were not informed for over a year about the pool’s presence at the day care. “They only found out about it a month ago, despite having their child there for nearly a year,” he explained. “When they confronted the day care operators, they were assured that everything was up to code. Clearly, that was not the case.”

“The pool was too close to the building, lacked proper alarms, and the gates were not secure,” he concluded, painting a grim picture of the situation.