Parents of baby who died at NYC daycare that doubled as drug den cheer guilty verdict: ‘We have justice’
A Bronx daycare owner and her husband have been found guilty of murder for the death of 22‑month‑old Nicholas Dominici. The parents, Grei Mendez and Felix Herrera Garcia, were convicted of second‑degree murder on Friday after a four‑day jury trial in the Bronx Supreme Court.
The case centers on fentanyl that was hidden under the floorboards of the Divino Niño Daycare in Kingsbridge, where children were meant to nap. The couple’s “depraved indifference”—failing to keep the dangerous drug away from kids—led to Nicholas’s fatal exposure. Authorities say three other children were also poisoned in the September 15, 2023 incident, one of them a 2‑year‑old who was rescued by Narcan and hospital treatment.
Mendez, 37, and Herrera Garcia, 38, had already pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to conspiracy to distribute narcotics that caused death. They each received 45‑year federal sentences. In the state case, they face up to life in prison for murder and additional assault charges.
Nicholas’s father, Otoniel Feliz, praised the verdict. “We have justice from the federal government, the Bronx court and the Justice Department. That’s what we wanted,” he told reporters. His mother, Zoila Dominici, called the verdict “justice” and broken‑heartedly thanked the jury. “Thanks, Nicholas… in heaven,” she said through a translator.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark stated outside the courthouse that the outcome was “a great day” and “justice for the families.” She added that daycare parents expect safety and learning, never fear a child’s death.
The convictions highlight the dangers of fentanyl in community settings and underscore the legal consequences for those who put children at risk.
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