Woman charged with murder in 2024 death of 6-month-old at unlicensed daycare
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A woman operating an unlicensed daycare where a 6-month-old child died in 2024 now faces a murder charge, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.
Lourdes Hernandez, 35, is currently jailed on a grand jury indictment charging her with 1st degree murder, aggravated child neglect, and operating a childcare agency without a license, police said.
Police and medics initially responded to an apartment in the 400 block of Welshwood Drive on Feb. 8, 2024, after receiving a call regarding an unresponsive infant.
PREVIOUS | Infant dead after being found unresponsive at unlicensed daycare
The victim's mother called 911 after arriving at the apartment to pick up her daughter. Upon arrival, the victim's mother found other children in the apartment crying, and Hernandez holding her daughter and putting water on her head, according to police.
At that time, Hernandez told police through an interpreter she put the infant down for a nap at around 1:30 p.m. The infant never woke up, and the babysitter said she tried to get her to wake up for about 15 minutes but was unsuccessful.
The child was taken to Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, where she was pronounced dead.
According to authorities, a total of 10 children under the age of 3 were in the apartment that day. Hernandez admitted to running a babysitting service for several years, charging $25 per child.
The Department of Human Services subsequently asked a judge to force the unlicensed daycare to close permanently.
On another occasion when a DHS Childcare Licensing Consultant and a Department of Children's Services (DCS) investigator visited the home following the child's death, authorities said the babysitter admitted to regularly caring for up to six children unrelated to her at a time.
RELATED | DHS asks judge to force unlicensed Nashville daycare to close after child's death
According to police, an autopsy performed later determined the child's body contained the antihistamine Diphenhydramine, commonly used in medications like Benadryl, at nearly three times the amount recommended for an adult.
Hernandez reportedly relocated to a residence on Zermatt Avenue and was arrested there, police said. Several children were found in that apartment at the time of her arrest.
Hernandez's bond is set at $150,000. She is set to appear before a criminal court judge April 2, according to MNPD.
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