At Bronx County Court on March 4, 2026, Grei Mendez, who operated the Divino Niño daycare, and her husband Felix Herrera Garcia were sentenced to 25 years to life on charges of second-degree murder and assault. This sentence will run concurrently with a previous 45-year federal sentence for drug trafficking.
Nicholas Dominici died in September 2023 after exposure to fentanyl at the daycare in the Kingsbridge neighborhood. The jury determined that the two defendants had hidden drugs under the floor where the young children napped.
Heartbroken Parents in Court
Mẹ của bé, Zoila Dominici, nói trong nước mắt trước tòa rằng đây là worst tragedy the family has ever experienced.“My son will never come back,” she said. “You should never have a day to get out of prison.”
The father, Otoniel Feliz, also stated that although the 45-year federal sentence is very long, the family still cannot get their child back.
“Justice is when the perpetrators pay the price,” he told the court.
The family said they are now left to remember their son every year at the cemetery.
Other Children Also Affected
In addition to Nicholas, three other young children were affected by fentanyl in the incident. A 2-year-old boy was once in critical condition and had to be saved with the antidote Narcan. These were terrifying moments that the victims' families can never forget.Judge Margaret Clancy said Nicholas's death “cannot simply be called a tragedy.” She said it was incomprehensible that the two defendants ran a drug operation while simultaneously applying for a daycare license from the city.
During the trial, Garcia apologized to the victim's family and said he wished he were the one who had died instead of the child.
The case shocked the nation when investigators discovered fentanyl and drug paraphernalia hidden under the daycare floor, right where the little ones napped.
