3 Fontana Daycare Staff Arrested In Connection To Death Of Toddler
by J Nandhini
Updated Feb 09, 2023
3 Fontana daycare staff arrested in connection to child's death
Three employees of a Fontana daycare center have been arrested on suspicion of child endangerment after 18-month-old Deacon Morin was found unresponsive at the facility and later died. Sagan Marriott, 27, Rebecca Lutz, 29, and Deborah Jimenez, 52, were taken into custody on Tuesday morning following an investigation into the child's death. The arrest came after detectives uncovered that Marriott and Lutz, who worked for Jimenez, found Deacon unresponsive but did not immediately call 911. Instead, they called Jimenez, who arrived at the daycare center before 911 was finally called.
The Marriott Family Childcare was licensed by the state to care for a maximum of four infants at a time, but on the day Deacon was found, there were six infants and at least 12 other children present, making the center "grossly over capacity." The excessive number of children in the facility exceeded licensing regulations, leading to safety concerns for the children. It was also discovered that Jimenez regularly sent children to the Marriott facility, which further contributed to the overcrowding.
The cause of Deacon's death remains under investigation, but the daycare staff had told the child's mother that an amber teething necklace strangled him during a nap. Deacon was taken to the hospital in critical condition but was taken off life support a few days later.
The Fontana Police Department is urging anyone with information related to this case to contact Detective Guith at (909) 350-7723. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the exact cause of Deacon's death and the extent of the daycare employees' involvement.
The loss of Deacon has been devastating for his family and has raised serious questions about the safety and well-being of children in daycare facilities. The arrests of the three daycare employees are a step towards justice for Deacon and the accountability of those who are responsible for the care and protection of children. The outcome of this investigation will have far-reaching implications for the child care industry and for parents who trust these facilities with the safety and well-being of their children.
