River, a 20-month-old girl, drowned in an above-ground pool at Ana’s Butterfly Garden Family Group, located at 2117 Story Avenue in Castle Hill, the Bronx. The incident occurred after a caregiver, a 47-year-old woman, left the child unattended inside while preparing food, according to reports.
Police responded to a 911 call around 12:50 p.m. when the caregiver realized River was missing. They found her unconscious in the backyard pool. A former police officer performed CPR before emergency responders arrived. River was transported to Montefiore-Einstein Medical Center, where doctors pronounced her dead.
State records show that the day care held a license since 2018. Inspectors conducted unannounced visits, finding no violations during a May 14, 2025 inspection. However, a previous inspection in March 2023 had cited a lapse in supervision—"children cannot be left without competent supervision at any time"—though follow-up inspections subsequently found no further issues.
After River’s death, a new inspection on August 4 identified nine serious violations. These included insufficient pool barriers, lack of proper supervision, obstructed corridors, and a failure to notify parents immediately about the incident. Authorities suspended the facility’s license on August 6.
River’s parents, Ima and Ifiok Wilson, and their attorney criticized both the day care and the state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) for gross negligence and lack of transparency. The family said they had not known there was a pool on the premises and felt misled about its safety. They have demanded reforms in inspection procedures and accountability from both the day care and the regulatory agency.
More than 200 mourners attended River’s funeral at St. Helena’s Roman Catholic Church in the Bronx. Clergy and family members remembered her as a child who brought light to those around her. Her father reportedly remains distraught, and the family continues to press for answers and oversight improvements in child care regulation.
(Rh/Eth/NS/MSM)