Child left in day care center van, found six hours later deceased

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - A 2 1/2 year child has died after being left in a day care transport van Thursday afternoon.

The child's mother, identified by the Sun-Sentinel as Nelder Lester, collapsed outside the day care after learning her daughter. Haile Brockington, was dead.

Police say the female child was picked up Thursday morning by Katie's Kids Learning Center in Delray Beach at 111 SW 10 Avenue.

The child, a 2-and-a-half year-old female, was reportedly found in a van at 4 p.m. Investigators believe the child was left for nearly 6 hours inside of the hot vehicle.

Florida Department of Child and Families sent a rapid response team to the scene to investigate.

Friday morning some parents had dropped off their children for the day. However, the day care was later closed voluntarily and parents were notified to pick up their children.

Betty Williams dropped off her 7 month son Christian at the center Friday morning. She said she did not have any complaints about the center.

However, she said she was surprised when she learned a child had died.  "I was just shocked. You see my child doesn't take the van anyway. Just terrible news." She was asked, Would you consider moving your child to another facility? "I'll have to think about it. That's all I'm going to say, I'll have to think about it."

An employee of the center who opened the doors refused to talk. While some parents say they were generally pleased with the day care, others said they will certainly be changing to a new service.

The day care center opened in 2009. 

The day care center refused to comment on the death.

Delray detectives, along with DCF, the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s office are investigating this case.

Detective Troy Baer is assigned to this case. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call him at (561) 243-7868.

The child would have turned 3-years-old in November.