In the wake of the tragic death of one-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici at Divino Niño Daycare Center in Kingsbridge Heights due to a fentanyl overdose on Friday, Sept. 15, District 14 City Council Member Pierina Sanchez has spoken out to condemn attempts to exploit the tragedy through the creation of a fraudulent GoFundMe campaign, purportedly set up to support the grieving family.
“It is disheartening and infuriating to learn that there are individuals out there who would seek to take advantage of this heartbreaking situation by creating a false GoFundMe page to collect funds meant for the family,” the councilmember said. “I urge our community to only donate to credible, verified fundraisers directly endorsed by the family or legitimate organizations. The only legitimate fundraising page at this time is being operated by the Bronx Community Foundation.”
As reported, Sanchez previously released the following statement regarding the tragedy. “My heart and prayers are with the family of Nicholas Dominici, a one-year-old baby who we lost following exposure to opioids at a daycare center in our neighborhood, as well as three children who are still recovering. This is a devastating time in Kingsbridge.”
“These children should have been safe at this day care facility. Their parents did everything right, yet government warning systems failed and the ongoing scourge of the opioid epidemic robbed us of a beautiful young life. This is any parent’s worst nightmare. We are doing all we can to support our families during this tragic time, while closely following the investigation into the depraved acts that led to this tragedy, and interrogating the gaps in government policies that allowed warning signs to go unnoticed by government inspectors. The family of Nicholas has requested privacy during these difficult times, and I hope the media and public will allow them space.”
A link to the legitimate fundraising page is as follows: Fundraiser by Otoniel Feliz Samboy : Nicholas Feliz Dominici (gofundme.com). The fake GoFundMe page has since been removed and Norwood News has reached out to GoFundMe for comment as to whom requested it.
As reported, following their arrests in The Bronx on murder, attempted murder, and other serious charges, Grei Mendez, the owner/caretaker of a Kingsbridge Heights based daycare center where, as reported, one-year-old Nicholas Dominici lost his life on Friday, Sept. 15, and Carlisto Acevedo Brito, her accomplice, were also hit with further federal drug trafficking charges in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, Sept. 19.
