Who is Grei Mendez De Ventura? Bronx day care owner called drug accomplices before dialing 911 for one-year-old who overdosed on opioids
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THE BRONX, NEW YORK: Grei Mendez De Ventura, the 36-year-old owner of The Bronx's Divino Nino day care where a supposed fentanyl exposure resulted in the unfortunate death of a one-year-old boy, Nicholas Feliz Dominici, reportedly reached out to two individuals involved in the concealed drug operation, one of whom was her husband.
According to information provided by law enforcement sources to The New York Post, she also contacted a third person before eventually calling 911 for assistance.
Which Bronx day care did Grei Mendez De Ventura run?
Grei Mendez De Ventura is the owner of Divino Nino Day Care, located at 2707 Morris Avenue, Bronx, New York.
Surveillance footage captured Ventura’s husband engaged in suspicious activities as he was seen carrying a sizable bag before the arrival of the first responders, as revealed by police sources.
An authority criticized the day care owner for wasting "precious minutes" in making the three phone calls after Nicholas Feliz Dominici, along with three other children, had been apparently exposed to opioids on September 15.
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The law enforcement source expressed incredulity, stating, "How callous could she be?" as per The New York Post.
Has the Bronx day care owner been arrested?
The Divino Nino Day Care owner, Grei Mendez De Ventura, and her cousin-in-law, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, were apprehended on Saturday, September 16, and now face multiple charges, including that of murder, manslaughter, assault, drug possession, and child endangerment.
As per law enforcement, Ventura first made a phone call to her husband, who is currently evading capture and has been claimed to be the central figure in the drug operation.
She then apparently contacted Brito and a friend, prior to seeking medical assistance for the affected toddlers at around 3.30 pm.
When Nicholas Feliz Dominici was eventually transported to the hospital, he had already succumbed to the alleged opioid exposure and was pronounced dead.
Who were the victims of the Divino Nino Daycare incident?
Apart from Nicholas Feliz Dominici, three other children were affected in the tragic Divino Nino Day Care incident. Two 2-year-old boys and their 8-month-old sister were also hospitalized, resulting from the alleged opioid exposure.
According to the police, one of the boys is currently in critical condition.
Narcan, the opioid overdose antidote, was administered to some of the children. Fortunately, the girl and one of the 2-year-old boys have since stabilized.
Before the arrival of emergency responders, surveillance footage captured Ventura's husband arriving at the daycare, gaining access through a rear entrance, staying briefly, and departing with a bag of sufficient size to potentially contain several kilograms of illegal drugs, as per sources.
Following his departure, Ventura and her husband engaged in multiple phone conversations, as reported by police sources.
Which drug did authorities find at the Divino Nino day care facility?
During September 15's raid at the day care center, police "discovered a kilogram of fentanyl in an area that was used to give the children naps," as revealed by NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny on September 18.
Additionally, three "kilogram press devices," typically used to package substantial quantities of drugs, were also uncovered.
It appears that the children inadvertently inhaled the drugs after they had been processed within the day care facility, subsequently being released into the air, according to sources.
While Divino Nino Daycare technically falls under the jurisdiction of the state's Office of Children and Family Services, inspection responsibilities have been outsourced to the city for several years, incurring substantial costs to taxpayers, amounting to millions of dollars.
Residents in the neighborhood have revealed that it was widely known as an open secret that the daycare was potentially a front for illicit drug activities.
They pointed out that the daycare had been in operation for over a year, with adults frequently entering and leaving the premises. However, it wasn't until approximately two months ago that children began to be seen at the facility, according to The New York Post.
A long-time resident, aged 69, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed the sentiment shared by many, stating, "We all said, ‘Drogas.’ How could you not know?"
Despite the suspicions raised by residents, records indicate that the day care successfully cleared a surprise inspection conducted by the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on September 6.
Mayor Eric Adams said inspectors did everything they were supposed to do during their review and that Ventura and her associates had shattered a relationship that was, in part, built on trust.