Family of drowned child plans to sue daycare for negligence

Tragic Drowning at Bronx Daycare Sparks Lawsuit

The heartbroken parents of a 1-year-old girl, who tragically drowned in a daycare center pool in the Bronx, have announced plans to sue for negligence. Their daughter, River Wilson, died on August 1 at Anna’s Butterfly Garden, located conveniently near their home, while a 47-year-old caretaker was apparently focused on cooking for about 20 minutes, as reported by officials.

“Our beautiful baby girl was taken from us when she was just 20 months old,” said River’s father, Ifeoku Wilson, during a news conference.

Ifeoku expressed frustration over the lack of answers from law enforcement and authorities since the incident occurred 75 days ago. “Imagine each of you burying your baby and not knowing what happened afterward,” he said, while speaking at the Hilario Serrano Police Playground—one of River’s favorite places.

River’s mother, Ima, was too overwhelmed with grief to speak and sat tearfully during the event.

The daycare’s owners, Ana Feliz Gonzalez and John Guzman, are expected to be named in upcoming lawsuits, according to the family and their legal counsel. As of now, they have not faced any charges, and efforts to reach them for comments were unsuccessful.

“We have come here to let you know that we will not stop fighting for justice for River,” Ifeoku asserted. “We will not rest until we have answers and accountability for her death. We deserve it. River deserves it.”

Congressman Richie Torres mentioned that River’s drowning was a “catastrophic failure” influenced by systemic shortcomings and insufficient oversight from the daycare staff and the state’s Department of Family and Children Services. He has introduced a bill, referred to as River’s Law, which seeks to prohibit pools in residential daycare settings, highlighting that the pool in question was deemed unsafe only after River’s tragic accident.

On August 4, state officials determined that the fencing around the pool was inadequate, despite previous inspections claiming it was safe. Torres criticized the government’s response as “too slow, too slow.”

“With proper adult supervision, River would still be alive today,” he emphasized. “A thorough and complete safety inspection could have made a difference.”

Addressing the ongoing pain, Ifeoku Wilson stated, “Parents should not seek answers for the death of their child. No parent should have to grieve in darkness, endlessly waiting for unanswered phone calls. This is the nightmare my wife and I endure every single day.”