Cops investigating Mendon baby’s death
MENDON — Authorities are investigating the death of a 10-week-old boy who was found unresponsive yesterday at an unlicensed child care facility in Mendon, officials say.
The infant was found unresponsive by his mother, who went to pick him up at the Bethany Community Church on Cape Road about 5 p.m., authorities say. The baby’s death is now being investigated by state police detectives assigned to Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.’s Office. There were no signs of foul play, Early said.
“The baby was taken to Milford Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead,” prosecutors said in a statement. “The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has accepted the case and will determine cause of death.”
Mendon cops could be seen going in and out of the church yesterday. An employee declined to comment and asked reporters to leave. Attempts to reach church leaders were unsuccessful.
Bethany Community Church was not licensed to care for infants, according to state officials who have joined the investigation.
Bethany Christian Academy, a K-12 school, received what state officials called a license exemption to care for preschool-aged children in 1996, according to state records.
But it’s never been licensed to care for babies, according to officials at the Executive Office of Education. Officials with the state’s Early Education and Care office are now investigating. The Department of Children and Families is also looking into the child’s death, spokeswoman Andrea Grossman said.
The tragic incident rattled nearby residents.
A woman who works nearby said “it’s so heartbreaking when you hear about that happening to a little one.”
An illuminated sign in front of the church was advertising an upcoming Easter Egg Hunt and inviting everyone to attend. The church Facebook page is filled with pictures of Christian rock concerts that had been held at the building — as well as pictures of church pastor Phil McCutchen delivering Sunday sermons.