Fairfield Woman Charged in Baby's Daycare Death Pleads Not Guilty

A Fairfield woman charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a 4-month-old baby at her unlicensed daycare in March pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday morning. 

Carol Cardillo, 53, was arrested on Sept. 8 and charged with second-degree manslaughter, second-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a child. She pleaded not guilty to all of the chrages. 

The arrest came more than five months after police responded to 63 Edgewood Road on March 22 to investigate the report of an unresponsive infant. 

Autopsy results found an anti-histamine drug inside the infants body.

The baby was transported from the daycare and pronounced dead at St. Vincent's Medical Center. On June 4, the office of the chief medical examiner reported that the baby died of acute diphenhydramine intoxication. 

Fairfield Police said Cardillo lived in the home and was operating an unlicensed daycare facility.

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine drug that should not be administered to children under the age of 2 years old, police said.

Cardillo was released on $250,000 bond. She is expected to appear in court on Oct. 25

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