Baby dies after being laid down for nap in unlicensed day care at Golden Gate home

A baby boy died in unlicensed day care at a home in Golden Gate last week, authorities said.

A deputy dispatched after a medical emergency call Aug. 8 went to a home in the 1700 block of 50th Terrace Southwest and found the 3½-month-old boy unconscious and unresponsive, the Collier County Sheriff's Office reported.

A woman called 911 to report the baby, later identified as Gabriel David, wasn't breathing. In the call she can be heard saying, "His lips are blue. I'm trying to breathe into his mouth."

When the deputy arrived at the home, he saw a woman giving the baby CPR, according to the Sheriff's Office incident report. The deputy took over CPR until Collier County emergency medics arrived. 

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The deputy noted in the incident report the baby was "cool to the touch" and had blueing around his mouth and eyes.

First responders took the baby to Physicians Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The Florida Department of Children and Families is investigating the death.

A DCF incident report states the baby was in the care of two unlicensed caregivers. The infant's death was sleep-related, the report states. But a cause of death has not yet been released. 

One of the caregivers told a DCF investigator the boy was falling asleep in his highchair, so she placed him to sleep on his side "on an adult-sized bed," the report states. The baby was asleep when the caregiver left the room. When she checked on him 20 or 30 minutes later, the infant had rolled onto his stomach and was not breathing, the report states.

A call made to the phone number associated with the home was not returned Wednesday.

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The DCF report notes the baby was placed on an adult-sized bed even though there were several unused Pack 'n Play beds in the home.

Investigators saw other children in the home, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The DCF report states the agency had no previous contact with the baby's family. The report also names two other people with whom the agency didn't have previous contact, but the names were redacted.

According to an online obituary for Gabriel David, he was born April 16. His funeral was Aug. 13. A Facebook fundraiser raised more than $3,000 to help the family with funeral expenses.

In an emailed statement, DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said child death and child care licensing investigations are being conducted.

"The loss of this young child is devastating and DCF immediately issued an order ceasing further operations at this illegal day care home," the statement reads. "These individuals acted carelessly and put the safety of the children they were entrusted to care for in danger."

According to DCF, Florida law requires that people who provide child care in their homes to more than one unrelated family be registered or licensed through DCF.

A search of DCF child care providers shows the home was neither licensed nor registered as a day care provider.

To search for licensed and registered day care providers by address, ZIP code, city, name or license number, see https://cares.myflfamilies.com/PublicSearch. 

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.