A local family is searching for answers two days after a 1-year-old boy died at a Tijeras daycare.
TIJERAS, N.M. – A 1-year-old boy died after responders found him unconscious and not breathing at a Tijeras daycare, and his family says they still want answers.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said deputies went to the New Mexico Early Learning Academy on Wednesday afternoon after getting a call about a baby who was unconscious and not breathing.
The daycare sat empty Thursday as it closed for the week, and family friend Deborah Lovato said the boy’s parents remain in shock as they grieve his death.
“The mother and father have not returned to work naturally, so it’s hitting the household. You know, not just physically, mentally, financially-it’s all of the above. Their emotions are with a roller coaster,” Lovato said.
Lovato said the family is still waiting to learn what caused their son’s death, and she said an autopsy will help provide answers.
“There is going to be an autopsy done on the child, and I think that’s the worst: is waiting for answers,” Lovato said.
Lovato said the family has questions about what happened at the day care before the boy died.
“It really was, and it was like, well, where was the staff at this daycare?” Lovato said, “Like, why don’t they know the Heimlich maneuver for infants? Like, don’t they? There was just so much anger and questions, and they were angry too.”
BCSO has not confirmed the baby’s cause of death.
“It’s bad enough when you lose a family member or a friend and they’re older and stuff, but it’s just a total tragic moment when you lose an infant,” Lovato said.
Lovato remembered the boy as a happy baby who laughed and was learning new things.
“He would laugh. He was learning, you know, just different stuff, to clap. And you know, we have one on Facebook that he’s laying down, and they’re just tickling him, and he’s laughing like he was just an amazing baby,” Lovato said. “He’s gonna be missed. That’s for darn sure.”
Lovato said they ill be holding a fundraising event for the family Sunday at Oasis Event Center from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
