August 13, 2025 THE BRONX, N.Y.— The family of River Wilson is in mourning, but their grief is fueled by a demand for answers. On Wednesday, they gathered with their attorney to say a final goodbye to the 21-month-old who tragically drowned in a backyard pool at her Bronx daycare on August 1st, an incident they believe was completely preventable.

In a heartbreaking interview, River's aunt, Inemesit O'Boyle, shared the family's profound loss. “She was an angel God loaned to us for a very short time,” O'Boyle said, her voice heavy with sorrow. She described a vibrant, well-traveled toddler who was already learning five languages. Now, the family is haunted by the unknown details of her final moments. "We don’t know what happened the last hour of her life, and that’s excruciating,” O'Boyle added.

A Community in Shock

The daycare owner, John Guzman, expressed his own devastation, telling a local news outlet, “That little girl was like my daughter. She was very happy, very lovely. It’s difficult because it’s like losing a child.” However, this statement was met with skepticism from the family. “If that was the case, they would put my sister out of her misery and let her know what happened to River,” O’Boyle shot back, underscoring the family's frustration and belief that more could have been done.

Daycare Shut Down Amid Mounting Violations

The daycare, Ana’s Butterfly Garden Family Group, has since been shut down. State records reveal a history of issues, including a prior violation in 2023 for a "lack of supervision." Following River's death, investigators found a shocking nine violations, with specific concerns about inadequate supervision and poor pool safety.

State law mandates strict regulations for licensed child care centers with pools, requiring them to have 48-inch barriers and alarms. A subsequent investigation by the city’s Department of Buildings found that the daycare's pool was alarmingly close to the property edge and the surrounding fence was a mere 36 inches tall—a full foot shorter than the legal requirement.

River Wilson

The family's attorney is advocating for greater oversight of home daycares, arguing that they need to be more "supervised more closely and regularly."

The district attorney’s office, in conjunction with the NYPD, is actively investigating the incident. No charges have been filed yet, as they await the medical examiner's official report to determine the exact cause of River’s death.