Woman Charged With Murder In 2024 Diphenhydramine Death Of 6MO At Unlicensed Daycare

[Sugar Cookie]

A woman operating an unlicensed daycare where a 6-month-old child died in 2024 now faces a murder charge, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Lourdes Hernandez, 35, is currently jailed on a grand jury indictment charging her with 1st degree murder, aggravated child neglect, and operating a childcare agency without a license, police said.

The victim’s mother called 911 after arriving at the apartment to pick up her daughter. Upon arrival, the victim’s mother found other children in the apartment crying, and Hernandez holding her daughter and putting water on her head, according to police.

At that time, Hernandez told police through an interpreter she put the infant down for a nap at around 1:30 p.m. The infant never woke up, and the babysitter said she tried to get her to wake up for about 15 minutes but was unsuccessful.

The child was taken to Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, where she was pronounced dead.

According to authorities, a total of 10 children under the age of 3 were in the apartment that day. Hernandez admitted to running a babysitting service for several years, charging $25 per child.

The Department of Human Services subsequently asked a judge to force the unlicensed daycare to close permanently.

According to police, an autopsy performed later determined the child’s body contained the antihistamine Diphenhydramine, commonly used in medications like Benadryl, at nearly three times the amount recommended for an adult.

Hernandez reportedly relocated to a residence on Zermatt Avenue and was arrested there, police said. Several children were found in that apartment at the time of her arrest.

MSN

Ten children under 3 years of age were in the apartment on the day of the baby's death

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Madison Alverto Coto

 

[Aedia]

Poor baby. I used to take far, far too much diphenhydramine (like starting with 3/400 mg and then pop 100 more a few times throughout the night) because it was the only thing that stopped my reoccurring sleep paralysis. It is not a good feeling at all, very uncomfortable before the sleep comes on.
ALL the children should be tested. If she couldn't handle a baby she could put in a cot, I wouldn't think her capable of dealing with 10 under 3 - probably many toddlers.