A 2-year-old boy in Florida has reportedly died after being found unresponsive in a van parked outside a day care center on Monday.
The toddler, who multiple news outlets have identified as Noah Sneed, was found dead outside Ceressa’s Daycare & Preschool in Oakland Park at around 3:30 p.m. Broward police spokesperson Keyla Concepcion told WPLG that the Sneed rode in the van to day care that morning.
A county official told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that the boy was one of seven children picked up in the van Monday morning, but the only one left in the vehicle.
Police said an employee discovered the toddler in the van, which was parked in front of the day care.
“My baby’s gone, oh my God, I can’t do this. I don’t understand. I don’t understand,” Sneed’s grandmother told WSVN. She said other children told employees that the toddler was left sleeping in the van.
“They took all the kids off but not Noah, I don’t understand. You don’t know if he cried himself to death or anything in this damn van.”
Temperatures reached 91 degrees in Oakland Park on Monday. Authorities have not said how long Sneed was left in the van. An upcoming autopsy will confirm his cause of death.
According to NoHeatStroke.org, Sneed is the 24th child to die this year from an apparent vehicular heatstroke.
According to records obtained by WPLG, a Department of Children and Families inspector highlighted issues with Ceressa’s Daycare & Preschool on December 21 and July 13, writing that some areas were unclean, some toddlers weren’t wearing shoes, and some employees did not complete required training.
The police spokesperson told WPLG that they are interviewing day care staff and witnesses as their investigation continues. WSVN reported that the Broward Sheriff’s Office Child Protective Investigations Section shut down the day care pending the outcome of their probe.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Noah Sneed/Facebook]
