Baby Boy, 8 Months Old, Dies After 9 Children Left Alone At Missouri Daycare Centre

An eight-month-old baby boy has died after nine children were allegedly left alone at an unlicensed daycare centre in Missouri and the police were called after it was found that the “infant [was] not breathing”.

The incident took place in the city of Springfield, in the Midwestern US state of Missouri, with the police saying in a statement issued on Tuesday, 8th March, that it took place on Wednesday, 2nd March.

The Springfield Police Department (SPD) said in a statement obtained by Newsflash that officers responded to call about an infant who was no longer breathing and that they performed CPR resuscitation procedures upon arriving until medics made it to the scene.

Cole, pictured with his parents Rob Shirley and Rachel Shirley , an 8-month-old boy, died when Deborah Lundstrom left nine children under the age of 3 unsupervised, at an unlicensed daycare in her home, in Springfield, USA. (@michelle.dickenspetry/Newsflash)

The SPD said: “On March 2, 2022, the Springfield Police Department responded to 2823 N. Washington for the report of an infant not breathing. Officers performed CPR on the infant until other first responders arrived.

“The eight-month-old infant was transported to the hospital by EMS and pronounced deceased at the hospital. Next of kin have been notified.”

The baby has been named as Cole and his parents as Rob and Rachel Shirley.

Cole, an 8-month-old boy, died when Deborah Lundstrom left nine children under the age of 3 unsupervised, at an unlicensed daycare in her home, in Springfield, USA. (@michelle.dickenspetry/Newsflash)

The police has said that “the Springfield Police Department’s Child Victims Unit began an investigation into the death”.

They have named the daycare centre operator as Deborah Lundstrom, 47, of Springfield.

They said that “Lundstrom was operating a childcare service at the residence and was responsible for nine children under age three”.

Cole, pictured with his parents Rob Shirley and Rachel Shirley , an 8-month-old boy, died when Deborah Lundstrom left nine children under the age of 3 unsupervised, at an unlicensed daycare in her home, in Springfield, USA. (@michelle.dickenspetry/Newsflash)

The police said that the accused left all nine children in her care without any adult supervision and that she put the infant into a car seat before leaving the premises for unknown reasons.

The SPD said that “when Lundstrom returned, she found him not breathing and called 911”.

The Greene County Medical Examiner’s Office has performed an autopsy, but the cause of death is still being investigated.

Cole, an 8-month-old boy, died when Deborah Lundstroml eft nine children under the age of 3 unsupervised, at an unlicensed daycare in her home, in Springfield, USA. (@michelle.dickenspetry/Newsflash)

The police added that Lundstrom has been charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, eight counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and operating a childcare facility without a licence.

The police said that the accused is being held at Greene County Jail.

The investigation into Cole’s death is ongoing and the police are asking anyone who has information about the incident “to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810. You may also provide information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477)”.