Stamford Daycare Owner Charged in Death of 2-Month-Old New Canaan Girl: UPDATE

By Alfred Branch (Patch Staff)

STAMFORD, CT — Nydia Carrillo-Maldonado, owner of the Stamford-based Little Bears Beginnings Daycare facility, has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the July 12 death of 2-month-old Bella Redondo of New Canaan.

Carrillo-Maldonado, 35, was arrested by Stamford police Monday on charges of first-degree manslaughter and risk of injury to a minor, and is currently being held in lieu of $200,000 bond.

Details of the arrest were not immediately available, but police issued a release about the case describing the circumstances surrounding Bella's death:

At approximately [3:12 p.m. on July 12] Stamford EMS was dispatched to Little Bears Daycare of 48 Wardwell St, Stamford Ct. EMS immediately transported the infant to Stamford [Hospital] when the baby stopped breathing and resuscitation efforts were put forth. At the [hospital] doctors valiantly tried to save Bella but to no avail. At approximately [6:20 p.m.] Bella was pronounced deceased and the Police were notified.

The OCME was notified and an autopsy was performed by the State’s Medical Examiner’s Office. They labeled the death a homicide due to blunt force trauma to the head. Stamford Investigators began an investigation which concentrated on the proprietor of Little Bears Daycare.

After numerous interviews, and consultations with medical professionals, investigators coordinated with States Attorney Richard Colangelo in submitting an arrest warrant for Nydia Carrillo-Maldonado, DOB: 10/24/81. Today, investigators arrested Carrillo-Maldonado for Manslaughter 1st [degree] and Risk of Injury to a Minor.

A day after Bella's death, Stamford police had declared the case as a homicide investigation, because there had been "some evidence of head trauma in addition to the breathing issue."

State medical examiners ruled the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, according to police.

Stamford police said a delay of about two hours from when the infant was at Stamford Hospital to when law enforcement was notified hampered the initial investigation.

"This case was a difficult one for the family, the community, and for investigators," wrote police in a statement. "Many parents put the trust of their children in the hands of daycare workers every day and this is every parent’s nightmare. This case was the departments’ top priority for the last several weeks. Investigators worked tirelessly to bring the person responsible for the death of a defenseless two month old infant to justice and to assist in restoring the sanctity to the daycare profession."

The investigation remains ongoing, and police said they "hope this arrest can assist in bringing closure to the Redondo family."

"This case was arduous for the family and for investigators and our condolences still extend to the Redondo family. [The Stamford Police] Youth Bureau investigators should be recognized as well as the States attorney’s office for their professionalism and collaboration in this somber case."

Photo 1: Nydia Carrillo-Maldonado via Stamford Police Department; Photo 2: Bella Redondo via GoFundMe