New Hampshire

Police Investigate Death of Baby at Alleged Unlicensed Day Care Center in Nashua, New Hampshire

Authorities are investigating the death of a 1-year-old boy in Nashua, New Hampshire, at a home authorities are calling an unlicensed day care center.

Police responded Wednesday afternoon to a home on Ash Street after a report of a child who was unconscious and not breathing. Responding crews performed CPR on the boy, who was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead.

Several other children were at the home at the time. Their parents were notified, and the children were evaluated as a precaution, but all were medically cleared.

Neighbors are deeply saddened, but not completely surprised. Wayne Andrews says he and his wife reported the home to the state after witnessing a woman apparently neglecting children on the property.

"In the backyard there was a wading pool, and there were five or six toddlers," said Andrews. "She was the only one back there with them, sitting in a chair falling asleep. My wife saw that and said, 'That's it, we need to do something about this.'"

"I came home to six cop cars all up and down my street," said neighbor Pat Newman. "We knew it was an illegal day care center going on there for many, many years."

The death is not considered suspicious, according to police.

Three people left the house in a hurry Thursday evening, declining to answer questions.

On a Facebook page affiliated with the home, a woman calls it a day care for newborns to first grade. Neighbors say conditions on the property were deplorable.

"We did everything we were supposed to do," said Newman. "It was reported to state investigators."

State officials have not responded to a request for comment about any investigation at the home. They say the facility did not have a license. But child care centers in New Hampshire do not need to have a license if three or fewer children are being cared for at the facility.

It's unclear how many children were in the residents' care.

The child's family is not associated with the Ash Street home, police say.

An autopsy has been conducted, but its results are still pending.

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