Bronx day care owner, husband sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after child dies from exposure to fentanyl
Nicholas Feliz Dominici died after being exposed to fentanyl inside the Kingsbridge day care center.
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Grei Mendez, the former owner of a Bronx day care, and her husband Felix Herrera Garcia, were both sentenced to 25 years to life behind bars for second degree murder and assault after drugs were discovered inside a child care center.
They were both previously sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2024 to three counts related to drug possession and distribution inside a child care center.
The two sentences will run concurrently with each other.
In September 2023, police raided the Davino Nino day care center in Kingsbridge after they said multiple young children were found unconscious.
Police said three children survived and one did not.
One-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici died after being exposed to fentanyl.
Officials said they discovered 1 kilo of fentanyl and drug packaging equipment, with traces of opioids on play mats where children under the age of 2 played and slept.
The family of Dominici entered the court today alongside the district attorney.
Judge Margaret Clancy said the defendants thought of only themselves when the babies got sick.
"It was chilling to listen to the 911 call that Mendez finally made. While screaming that the babies were not breathing, but while also directing her husband out the back door," she said.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said the day care was used to hide the drug operation.
“These babies were being used as a shield to protect the narcotics operation,” Clark said. “That’s what this was all about. They didn’t care about those children.”
The case has also sparked calls from lawmakers for stricter oversight and regulations for day care centers across New York City.
