Fairfield Daycare Operator Charged in Baby’s Death

FAIRFIELD, CT — A Fairfield woman has been charged in connection with a 4-month-old boy’s death in March at an unlicensed daycare facility she was running out of her home.

Carol Cardillo, 53, of Edgewood Road, was arrested by Fairfield Police on Thursday following an investigation into the infant’s death on March 22.

The arrest comes nearly two months after Adam V. Seagull’s death was ruled a homicide.

Seagull, who lived in Shelton, was originally thought to have died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but an autopsy and toxicological tests showed he had high levels of Benadryl in his system.

Fairfield Police responded to the Edgewood Road residence on March 22 on the report of a 4-month old infant who was unresponsive. Police said the infant was transported to Saint Vincent’s Medical Center where he was pronounced dead by medical staff.

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The Connecticut Post reports Cardillo called 911 at about 3 p.m. to report Seagull was unresponsive and she couldn’t wake him up. She had told police that she gave him a bottle around noon and then put him down for a nap.

During the course of the investigation, Fairfield Police Detectives discovered that Cardillo was operating an unlicensed daycare facility out of her residence. Several search warrants were executed at that address, and other locations, for evidentiary purposes, according to police.

The unlicensed daycare facility, which Cardillo operated for 11 years, was shut down that day (March 22), according to the Post.

On June 4, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported the autopsy results to Fairfield Police Detectives.

“The report listed the Cause of Death as: ACUTE DIPHENHYDRAMINE INTOXICATION, and the Manner of Death as: HOMICIDE (administered drug by another),” police wrote in a press release. “Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine drug, commonly known as Benadryl, that should not be administered to children under the age of 2, and should only be administered to children between the age of 2 and 4 years old after consultation with a doctor.”

After receiving the autopsy, Fairfield Police Detectives worked in conjunction with the State’s Attorney’s Office, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and several medical professionals, leading to the arrest of Cardillo, police said.

Cardillo was arrested on charges of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor. She was released after posting a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Sept. 15.

Photo via the Fairfield Police Department