Aurora – A toddler found wedged between a bed and a crib at a home child-care facility was still in the hospital Friday evening, Aurora police said.
Aurora police and state authorities are investigating the case and whether the facility at 1172 Havana St. had broken any rules.
Family members have said that the child was on life support and they believed he was brain-dead.
The 16-month-old boy’s name has been reported as Zavion Brown.
Officials at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center wouldn’t say whether the boy is at the hospital.
Police wouldn’t comment on the investigation, other than saying detectives are trying to determine whether the child’s injuries were the result of neglect.
State investigators are looking at whether the owner of the facility was operating an unlicensed child-care center. State statute says a family child-care center doesn’t need a license if it follows certain guidelines: All the children must belong to the owner or they must be first relatives, meaning nieces, nephews or grandchildren. Also, the facility may care for one other family, but all of the children must be relatives of one another.
The owner of this facility, Addie Lee Perry, was allegedly caring for nine children Thursday. Investigators are trying to learn the children’s relationship to Perry.
Between August 2004 and June 2005, Perry received federal money from the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program to help her care for the children. To get the money, Perry had to undergo background checks in August 2004.
“They didn’t find anything,” said Mary McGhee, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Human Services.
According to county records, Perry got $10 per day for six children she cared for under the assistance program. Four were related to her and two were from another family, McGhee said. Perry didn’t reapply for the program this year but was on a waiting list with Arapahoe County, McGhee said.
If the investigation finds Perry was operating an unlicensed facility, she could face civil penalties, and a cease-and-desist order could be issued, McGhee said.
Staff writer Jeremy Meyer may be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
