JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 13-month-old boy died following a nap at a daycare center in the Holiday Hill area of Jacksonville Tuesday, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Officers were called out to Happy Acre Ranch at 7117 Crane Ave. around 2:30 p.m. in reference to an unresponsive child. When first responders arrived, they found the child, identified as a boy, in medical distress. The boy was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The sheriff's office said the boy was already under medical measurements at the daycare center. Police spokesperson Sgt. Steve Rudlaff said the boy was put down for a nap at around 12:30 p.m., but when staff went to check on him at around 2:30 p.m., he was unresponsive.
Police do not know what caused the child's death but do not suspect foul play.
Katie Vatter, the owner of Happy Acres, released a statement calling the situation "devastating for everyone involved," and saying "our condolences go out to the parents."
Rudlaff said the parents are "obviously distraught."
"We are trying to go through the medical history of the child to get it to the medical examiner," he said.
The sheriff's office said the boy has been attending the daycare center for at least a month. The Florida Department of Children and Families is conducting a separate investigation.
"We are fully cooperating with the Department of Children and Families, but we will not be able to provide any further comment on this matter at this time," Vatter said.
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