CLIFTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — The death of a 21-month-old girl who died after being found unresponsive at a Clifton day care center is being investigated by New Jersey authorities.
The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office confirmed to NJ Advance on Friday that it is investigating Vanessa Camila Gomez's death, with a spokesperson saying charges have yet to be filed.
Vanessa's family alleges that Step by Step Day Care has refused to offer authorities surveillance footage from inside the facility from around the time the Paterson toddler became unconscious, according to Frank Leddy, a lawyer representing the family.
Leddy added that video updates that the facility posts for parents on a mobile app have also been deleted.
The Woodbridge-based attorney said he's "trying to help the family because they’re absolutely devastated."
"They’re not going to be able to move on with their grieving process until they get answers," Leddy said. "They do what all parents do. You drop your kids off and you don’t think twice about it. And then to never see them again — we’re just trying to comprehend what happened."
Tuesday began as usual, according to Leddy, with the toddler's mother, Isabel Gomez, dropping her off at the facility at 7:05 a.m., where Vanessa had been for about a year.
According to Leddy, posts on the "Brightwheel" app showed Vanessa lying down for a nap at about 12:30 p.m., waking up at 2:30 p.m. and having a wet diaper five minutes later. The second and third posts have since allegedly been deleted.
"We don’t know why and by who," Leddy said.
Isabel Gomez allegedly first learned something was wrong when a day care employee called her at 3:12 p.m. to tell her that Vanessa had been unresponsive and that paramedics had been called.
Leddy told the outlet that the employee gave Isabel incorrect information, claiming Vanessa never woke up from her nap even though the app showed otherwise.
Gomez received another call at 3:30 p.m. saying her daughter was being taken to St. Joseph’s Medical Center, according to Leddy. She arrived at the hospital minutes later.
Leddy alleges doctors and emergency workers were unable to answer any of Gomez’s questions about how her daughter died, and an autopsy won't be available for 12 to 16 weeks.
Isabel Gomez told the outlet that Vanessa "was a happy girl," "smart" and "just was sweet."
She added that day care owner has called her "two or three times" since Vanessa’s death to express condolences and check on her.
"She said they loved my daughter," Gomez said. "She said the workers and mothers want to say goodbye to Vanessa. She said, ‘we just want to be present if permitted.’"
In a phone call with a number listed for the facility on Friday afternoon, a man told NJ Advance that the owner was unavailable to comment.
"There’s nothing for her to say," he said. "We’re waiting on the investigation."
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