SAN JOSE, CA – A tragic incident at a residential daycare in San Jose, California has led to the arrest and charging of a mother and daughter after two toddlers drowned in a pool earlier this month. Nina Fathizadeh, 41, and her mother, Shahin Gheblehshenas, 64, have both been charged with felony child endangerment. They are expected to be arraigned on December 6, according to an announcement from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office made on October 13.
The incident occurred at the Happy Happy Daycare, a daycare facility owned and operated by Fathizadeh and Gheblehshenas. Authorities reported that no adults were supervising three young children when they either fell or jumped into a backyard pool.
On October 2, at around 9 a.m., Fathizadeh called 911 to report the drowning incident. Meanwhile, her mother was reportedly at another daycare facility, which was allegedly unlicensed, at the time of the incident.
According to investigators, one daycare worker had called in sick on the day of the incident, leaving only Fathizadeh to care for four children. While preparing breakfast, Fathizadeh placed one child in a crib and allowed the other three to play unsupervised in the backyard patio play area.
Approximately five minutes later, Fathizadeh discovered an unconscious 2-year-old child in the pool. She attempted CPR on the child while her brother found two other children, both girls aged 16 and 18 months, floating in the deep end of the pool.
Tragically, the two girls were pronounced dead. The 2-year-old child survived but was left in critical condition. Fortunately, the child is expected to make a full recovery.
Investigators determined that neither Fathizadeh nor Gheblehshenas had checked the pool gate before allowing the children into the backyard to play. District Attorney Jeff Rosen emphasized the responsibility of caregivers to closely watch over young children.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Fathizadeh and Gheblehshenas have retained an attorney to represent them.