FORT WORTH, TX (07/23/2015) — An illegal daycare facility is being investigated after 9-month-old Dacion Steptoe Jr. died on Thursday.
According to reports, 9-month-old Dacion “Deuce” Steptoe Jr. was transported to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth Thursday afternoon after a daycare worker reported that the boy was having difficulty breathing. The child was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The daycare facility in question is located in the 6700 block of Woodbridge Dr. in Fort Worth; the address appears to be that of an apartment complex. According to Child Protective Services, this address is not registered to a licensed daycare, and CPS says they consider it an illegal daycare operation.
The Childcare Licensing Division is currently investigating, as is the Crimes Against Children Unit. It’s still unclear as to what led to Dacion’s death, but Fort Worth officers say they are looking into what exactly happened before the child was rushed to the hospital. No charges have yet been filed at this time.
Commentary
The death of a child is something that no parent should have to experience, and our thoughts go out to Dacion’s family. We’re eager to find out what the investigation reveals, and hope that those found liable are held fully responsible.
There’s no excuse for a daycare facility to operate illegally. These facilities must be regulated to ensure the safety of our children. Their workers need to be properly trained in operating a childcare facility and fully background checked. We urge the State Child Care Licensing Division of Child Protective Services to devote more resources to finding and shutting down these illegal operations in order to protect our most vulnerable citizens before another senseless tragedy occurs.