WASHINGTON – Police have charged two daycare providers with child endangerment after a child was found dead at an unlicensed daycare in Bristow.
Their arrests are unrelated to the child’s death. Police are treating the child’s death and child endangerment as two separate investigations.
Prince William County Police arrested Yolanda Gracelia Larin, 50, of Manassas and Mirna Mendez, 42, of Woodbridge. They have been charged with five counts of child endangerment.
A police investigation found that Larin and Mendez were the only two adults present with 23 children, ranging in age from newborn to 4 years old. Five of the children were less than 12 months old, which led to the endangerment charges.
The deceased child has been identified as 3-month-old Teagan Sample. The death investigation is still ongoing and an autopsy is expected to be conducted Friday.
Sample was pronounced dead after being found unconscious at the residential daycare center in the 13200 block of Sapphire Ridge Place Thursday afternoon.
A caller reported the child was unresponsive, according to a news release.
Police say they have discovered no evidence of foul play at this point.
No other injuries or incidents were reported.
The remaining children were released to their parents or guardians on Thursday night.
The daycare center has been shut down.
Larin and Mendez are being held without bond and are scheduled to appear in court May 16.
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