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Child Death Investigation Underway At Ensley Academy; DCF Closes Facility Until Further Notice
August 18, 2017
An active death investigation is underway in Ensley where a 3-year old female was found unresponsive.
The incident happened at the In His Arms Christian Academy on Detroit Boulevard. Initial reports indicated that the child was found outside the facility in a van; that report is currently under investigation, according to Major Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a complete investigation. Authorities said no other children at the facility were harmed or are in danger.
The Florida Department of Children and Families has opened their own investigation into the child’s death and issued an Emergency Suspension Notice closing the facility until further notice.
“As a parent,I am completely heartbroken by the loss of this child,” DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said. “DCF has the highest expectations for childcare providers in our state and news of this tragedy is completely unacceptable. Our agency has opened an investigation and we will close this private childcare facility tonight. We have zero tolerance for carelessness that puts child safety at risk and we will work with law enforcement to hold whoever is responsible fully accountable.”
The State Attorney’s Office also responded to the scene for an investigation.
Further details have not been released. More details will be posted as they become available.
Pictured: An active death investigation is underway in Ensley where a child was reportedly found unresponsive in a van. Photos courtesy David Gonzales, WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
17 Responses to “Child Death Investigation Underway At Ensley Academy; DCF Closes Facility Until Further Notice”
I am praying for the family. I cannot think of a worse thing that could happen. A darling little angel . God bless and comfort them, please.
@Just Me
Glad everything turned out good for you. I bet it is a lesson learned you will NEVER!!!! forget. You will forever keep him in your sights and those little trips to grannie’s house will be supervised. It only takes a second for disaster to strike with children.
This is so sad. As for the circumstance that is not for me to figure out I just offer up my prayers for the family and friends.
This is so sad… it especially hits home to me because I very recently had a scare with my 3 year old! I thought he had walked across the yard to gramma’s house… little did I know he pushed the button & opened the back hatch, climbed into the vehicle to get his shoes and shut himself in & couldn’t get out… Thank God the vehicle was in the shade and we found him before it was too late! He was so so hot already! Don’t get too hard on people before you know the whole story…
First off, I will pray for this family and ask the Lord to forgive this person that let this poor baby be left behind. Now with that said, I have a story. I am a mother of grown children. I have worked in a day care. Let me tell you, I have eyes in the back of my head! There was never, I mean never a moment these babies weren’t thought about. When I had to go to the store, they went in with me. When I had to change a diaper or take a child to the potty and outside to play, these eyes in the back of my head was in high gear! This is instinct. It’s not rocket science, no math skills required.
No technology, devices or jail can fix stupid! What is wrong with this world.
REGARDING:
“How can you forget an innocent child in the vehicle?”
It is very sad, but it definitely happens. That is why they had to put alarms on school buses which require drivers to go to the back of the bus before leaving after turning off the ignition switch. That way we are more apt to notice sleeping children. (Even then, some are so small and under the seats that they might be missed if you aren’t careful.)
David for better outcomes
and remembering
This is INEXCUSABLE I guarantee you this person did not forget her cell phone when she left that vehicle and if she had forgotten it she would go back in that vehicle and look for it I guarantee you that!!!!
So sad.
Prayers for the family.
God have mercy on all involved in this sad situation. I lift up the family of your newest
Angel. I pray for the children at the day care, that may not know what has happened, but they sense something is wrong. And lastly, I pray for the day care workers, and every first responder involved in this painful problem. No matter how well you are trained, you never leave a scene the same person you where when you arrived. So again I ask for God’s great mercy on you, one and all. Amen
Prayers to the family for their loss. At this point revenge and anger will not bring that child back. We recently saw a rush for judgment on another child death trial last week. Two wrongs do not make a right. I hope this child’s death is not in vain, but can be the tipping point to insist that any childcare provider in America installs the technology which protects children from being left in hot vehicles.
http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/13/autos/gmc-child-back-seat-reminder/index.html
Of course the criminal justice system will look for criminality, and will put somebody in jail for 50k a year at taxpayer expense as more children die across the nation. Please slow down. Please think how these tragedies can be prevented. Do not let this child die in vain. Let us require zero tolerance for leaving children in hot cars, not because of after the fact expensive revenge by the SA like this will deter this behavior, rather investing in sound and available technology which protects children. I am so sad thinking as a society we sit and watch tragedy after tragedy, and think we are protecting children with legal revenge. It is time to engage our brains. Accidents happen and God knows we must do a better job understanding and creating a safety net for children.
It is happening nationwide because people care only about what is on their cell phones, I-pads, etc. People are busied out being addicts to electronics. They are working on systems right now which will not allow this to happen but, sadly, not in time to save this little girl.
My son works at WFH emergency room where they brought the llittle girl. He has a 2 year old so its hitting him pretty hart. Prayers to the family.
How can you forget an innocent child in the vehicle? This is happening too frequently nationwide. If your life is that hectic…don’t be in a position to in any way possibly harm another individual, especially a defenseless child.
Praying for the family, the officers involved and staff. So traumatic for everyone.
this has got to stop people check ya vehicles before leaving a helpess child in an hot van almighty god help this family right they need you
PRAYERS FOR ALL, LORD BE WITH THIS FAMILY AND PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND THIS BABY … IN JESUS NAME AMEN
This is so sad. My prayers are with the family.