The suspects in the Bronx day care overdose murder case has been charged, after several children were exposed to opioids are believed to be mid-level drug distributors, a federal law enforcement official said, CNN reports.
The Bronx day care overdose suspects identified as Grei Mendez, 36, and Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, face federal and state charges in connection with the suspected overdoses at Divino Niño day care, according to CNN,
Bronx day care overdose:
They were arrested Saturday, a day after 1-year-old Nicholas Dominici died after suspected fentanyl exposure. Two 2-year-old boys and an 8-month-old girl were also exposed to the suspected fentanyl and suffered acute opioid intoxication.
According to court documents, Mendez is the owner and operator of the day care, and Brito is her husband’s cousin and a tenant who lives in a bedroom within the day care.
Investigators are also looking for a third male suspect who has not been publicly named. Another law enforcement official told CNN the third suspect is believed to be Mendez’s husband.
Authorities have recovered video of that man leaving the center carrying plastic bags that appeared to contain three large square items, which investigators suspect were remaining kilos of fentanyl, that official said.
Authorities believe he has not left the country and is still in the Northeast, the federal law enforcement official added.
Investigators believe the suspects were mid-level drug distributors tasked with cutting fentanyl with other drugs or even household items like baby powder, the first federal law enforcement official said.
They then gave the pressed product to others, who got it into the hands of street sellers, the official said. None of the suspects was previously on law enforcement’s radar, the official said.
Mendez and Brito face state charges of murder, manslaughter, assault, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of a controlled substance, court documents show.
They were arraigned and remanded without bail Sunday night.
They also face federal charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death. If convicted on the federal charges, the defendants could be sentenced to up to life in prison.
Mendez’s defense attorney, Andres Manuel Aranda, told CNN his client plans to fight the charges.
“We feel that she doesn’t have… anything (to do) with this case besides taking care of the kids,” Aranda said. “She has no previous knowledge of any contraband in the apartment. None whatsoever.”