A tight-knit New York City neighborhood is grappling with heartbreak after one-year-old River Wilson tragically drowned at a local daycare center.
The unimaginable loss has sent shockwaves through her family and neighbors, who are searching for answers about how such a tragedy could happen.
The Day That Changed Everything
River’s parents, who recently tied the knot, had dropped their precious baby girl off at Ana’s Butterfly Garden Family Group daycare in the Bronx — a place they trusted since August 2024.
The daycare is housed in a private home and costs around $800,000 annually.
But on a seemingly ordinary Friday afternoon, everything took a devastating turn.
Around 1 pm, River was found unconscious in the daycare’s gated backyard pool.
Despite a neighbor’s heroic attempts at CPR and quick emergency response, she was pronounced dead at Montefiore Medical Center.
Eyewitnesses Recall Frantic Rescue Efforts
The neighbor who tried to save River is a former federal police officer.
He heard screaming and yelling nearby, rushed to the scene, and immediately began CPR while on the phone with emergency services.
“I couldn’t find a pulse, but I kept trying,” he shared.
“They told me to cut the baby’s dress off, but there was no response.”
Confusion and Questions Surround How River Ended Up in the Pool
The woman responsible for watching River that day told police she was cooking when she realized the toddler had been missing for about 20 minutes.
She found River in the pool, but the circumstances remain unclear.
River’s family is struggling to understand how she could have reached the pool area, which was behind a locked door and a gate.
Her aunt, Inemesit O’Boyle, expressed confusion, noting River was too young to open doors or climb gates.
“We can’t imagine how she ended up in the pool,” O’Boyle said.
“The daycare hasn’t reached out to my sister or her husband. We found out from a neighbor who heard the screams.”
A Beloved Child Remembered With Love and Sorrow
River was the first and only child of her parents — described by her aunt as “beautiful” and “amazing.”
Loved ones have gathered to honor her memory, leaving flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals outside the daycare and the family home.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the grieving family. It reads:
“River was a beautiful, joyful baby—full of wonder, light, and laughter.
Her radiant smile lit up every room, and her sweet spirit brought immense love to everyone around her.
Though her time with us was heartbreakingly short, the love she gave and inspired will never fade.”
The Daycare’s Role and Community Response
Ana’s Butterfly Garden has been licensed to care for up to 10 children, ranging from six weeks to 12 years old, since 2018.
It is run by Ana Feliz Gonzalez, who also owns the home.
As of now, it’s unclear whether the woman who was caring for River will face charges.
The family hopes surveillance footage will shed light on what happened.
River’s funeral is scheduled for August 13, and the community continues to rally around her parents in this tragic time.
