Coroner: Baby died of suffocation at home daycare in Lafayette

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – Tippecanoe County Coroner Donna Avolt says the death of a 1-year-old child who died at a Lafayette home daycare was not from natural causes.

The cause of death was ruled as mechanical asphyxia, which according to Avolt means the suffocation was caused by something material – as opposed to co-sleeping.

On April 25, Lafayette police were called to the 1700 block of Shenandoah Drive after the owner called them to report the unresponsive baby.

There, police say medics performed CPR and took the baby to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

LPD is working with the Department of Child Services to investigate the case.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is involved as well.

Indiana FSSA spokeswoman Marni Lemons says the daycare owner was operating illegally at the time.

In Indiana, home daycare owners are allowed to operate without a license if they stay under six kids unrelated to them.

However, Lemons says the woman operating the daycare at Shenandoah Drive was taking care of more than five kids unrelated to her, as well her own children.

FSSA sent a cease and desist notice to the owner, and Lemons says they will continue to make unannounced visits to make sure she is complying with the five children limit.

But other than that, FSSA doesn’t have much authority over unlicensed home daycare businesses.

WISH-TV’s sister station WLFI left a message with Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Patrick Harrington Thursday to see if any charges are going to be made against the owner of the day care, but our calls have yet to be answered.

Police are not releasing the daycare owner’s name unless official charges are filed.