LENOIR, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Police in Lenoir are investigating a baby’s death after police say the infant went into cardiac arrest at a daycare in Caldwell County.
The parking lot of Creative Beginnings daycare in Lenoir is quiet on Tuesday, but a mom says it looked nothing like that on Monday.
“It freaked me out because I’ve never seen anything like that,” said the parent who didn’t want to be identified. “I just seen the EMS and the ambulance and fire trucks and stuff there and I was kind of scared because my child does go there.”
The mom doesn’t want to use her name because of safety concerns after police say a 16-month-old child died after being at the daycare.
“Nobody knows the whole story yet, they need to wait until the tests come back before you go making accusations.”
Around 2:45 p.m. on Monday, May 19, officers responded to Creative Beginnings of Lenoir at 1966 Morganton Blvd about reports of an infant in cardiac arrest.
When they arrived, they found a 16-month-old child unresponsive.
They did CPR and rushed the child to the hospital, where the baby died.
Records show Creative Beginnings had its most recent visit from DHHS in February, where there were no major violations.
In August 2024, records show the daycare had several violations of the safe sleep policy, and in March 2024, a violation for a staff member not having “the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training certificate on file for review.”
The mom we spoke with says now that the information is out there on the child’s death, there’s another issue.
“There’s people calling and threatening the daycare that my child goes to and that’s sick because there’s a whole lot of other children in there that could get hurt,” said the parent.
The Lenoir Police Department has opened an investigation regarding the child’s death, but would not say whether or not it’s suspicious.
Investigators are working with the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the exact cause of death.
Police said the daycare has been fully cooperative throughout the investigation, but the daycare would not speak with Queen City News.
On Tuesday morning, the preschool wrote on Facebook, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our sweet little angels at Creative Beginnings of Lenoir. Our hearts are broken, and we’re struggling to find the right words in the face of such sorrow. Please keep our teachers, staff, and everyone who loved this precious child in your prayers, but especially the family, as they grieve the unimaginable loss of their child. May God’s peace and comfort be with all who are hurting during this difficult time.”
Anyone with information on this case can contact the Lenoir Police Department at (828) 757-2100 or Lenoir/Caldwell County Crime Stoppers at (828) 758-8300.
