10-week-old boy dies at Mendon day care without proper permit

MENDON, Mass. — Massachusetts officials are investigating the death of a 10-week-old boy at a Mendon day care.

The boy was found unresponsive at the Bethany Church Day Care Center around 5 p.m. Tuesday when his mother arrived to pick him up. He was taken to Milford Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The Worcester County DA and Department of Children and Families are involved in the investigation.

In addition, the Department of Early Education and Care tells FOX25 that the private facility was given an exemption to care for preschool-age children and older, but not infants.

That exemption also means tat it does not fall under the same regulations as public schools and is not inspected by the state.

The DA said there are no signs of foul play at this time and there will be an investigation to determine the cause of death.

"The school itself is exempt from licensure through early education care, so they're not part of the regular pattern of inspection and evaluation that other early education facilities go through,” Massachusetts Secretary of Education Jim Peyser said.

Other parents of children at the day care were notified of what happened by email, but say they're still struggling to experience how and why.

Cox Media Group