FOX25 Investigates: Unlicensed Mendon daycare where baby died still caring for infants

MENDON, Mass. — A private church daycare in Mendon where a baby boy died this week is still open – even though it’s not licensed to care for infants, FOX25 Investigates has learned.

The Department of Early Education and Care confirmed to FOX25 Thursday that the same daycare at Bethany Community Church in Mendon is still looking after infants – raising questions about why the state hasn’t made a move to shut down the unlicensed child care program.

Investigators reported a mother found her 10-week-old baby boy unresponsive at the daycare on Tuesday. The baby was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Police have yet to identify the boy.

Prosecutors have said the baby’s death is not suspicious, but the tragedy has triggered two state investigations so far.

One advocate tells FOX25 the baby’s death highlights the need for licensing all daycares.

“There should be no exceptions,” said Jennifer Lane of Community Voices. “It’s important for daycares to be licensed so that we know our children are in a safe place, that the state has done their due diligence in making sure they have all the standards and guidelines in place to protect our children safely.”

FOX25 Investigates asked EEC why it hasn’t taken action.

The agency says a preschool at the church school got an exemption to operate without a license in 1996 because the facility is part of a private K-12 grade school.

But that exemption on covers children between the ages of 2 and 6 – not infants.

The state also confirms it hasn’t paid a visit to the school in 20 years.

The school did not respond to a request for comment.

FOX25 asked Gov. Charlie Baker about it, but he stopped short of calling for immediate action.

“That investigation is ongoing and we need to finish the investigation as quickly as we can and then issue the findings,” said Baker.

FOX25 Investigates has been trying to find out how many other preschools or daycares received a license exemption and are going unmonitored.

But a spokeswoman for EEC said the agency couldn’t immediately say without checking all of its records by hand.

Cox Media Group