Police: Toddler drowns in Millville, New Jersey daycare's fish pond

MILLVILLE, N.J. -- A toddler drowned in a backyard fish pond at a daycare in Millville, New Jersey on Tuesday morning, police say.

According to investigators, the 15-month-old boy was found in the one-foot-deep goldfish pond at the Sunshine Daycare on Shar Lane Boulevard.

Police say the death appears to be accidental but an investigation is underway.

Neighbors tell Action News 58-year-old Roxanne Lacy has cared for children here in her home for years. They called her thoughtful and attentive to the handful of kids who stayed with her each day.

"She was just like a mother hen, she was very protective, very friendly, a nice woman - an all-around woman," said Wayne Harris.

Police say Lacy had six children at her home on Tuesday. She was inside tending to one of them, when around 10:50 a.m., she lost track of a 15-month-old boy.

She found the toddler unresponsive in a small fish pond in the backyard.

"I heard her screaming. She was devastated. She was in total shock," said Harris.

Paramedics were called and attempted to resuscitate the child. The boy, whose family lives in Woodbine, was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead.

The preliminary cause of death is drowning.

Nobody answered when Action News knocked at the front door of Lacy's home.

Later, family members arrived, but declined to comment.

"Never would have thought that something like this would have happened. They are good people - a good family," said Jessica Ortiz.

Officials are working to determine if Lacy was properly licensed to operate a daycare at her home.

Meanwhile, a number of agencies including Millville Police, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office and New Jersey's Child Protection and Permanency Division are all investigating.