JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is investigating after a 5-month-old girl was found unresponsive in a home on Cumberland Station Drive and was later pronounced dead.
JSO Sgt. Jay Farhat said police were called to the area around 3:30 p.m. after the 5-month-old, who was laying on a bed, stopped breathing.
A 17-year-old girl, the daughter of the homeowner, was at the home and went to check on the sleeping infant when she noticed the baby was not breathing. The teen called 911 and started CPR on the baby until paramedics arrived.
The child was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Farhat said the home is being investigated as an unlicensed day care, as eight other children were in the home.
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One adult homeowner was at the house, but left to go to the store to get soda and is being questioned, Farhat said. Neighbors also tell us the home where the baby was found is the home of a local bishop.
We did a public records search on the home and found Cleo and Portia Bentley live there. Neighbors confirmed their picture and we found out Cleo Bentley is listed as a bishop at the Natural Born Truth Ministry in Jacksonville.
There is no indication of injury and no signs of foul play in the baby girl's death, Farhat said.
Farhat said the autopsy on the baby will be done Friday morning and it is too soon to tell in the investigation if any arrests will be made.
Other kids were still being picked up from the home as police were responding to the scene on Thursday evening.
The Florida Department of Children and Families is investigating. According to DCF, under Florida law, when it comes to more than one non-related family group, a license is required.
Lots of police presence and crime scene unit in Southside neighborhood. Still working on details @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/QvWjq66iNZ
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) May 19, 2016
Crime scene unit bringing in brown bags. Probably to collect evidence @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/7OIVr0Aiyv
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) May 19, 2016
JSO: 5mo baby found dead in bed inside unlicensed daycare. A teen was the only one home at the time @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/IysrXTYXde
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) May 19, 2016
A neighbor tells me he has watched parents drop off children for the past 6 years. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/PdBPIIVxwP
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) May 19, 2016
Sgt Farhat speaking to media, 5 month old died in home on Cumberland Station Dr. Update at 630p @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/sD37v0jlAT
— Brandon Bryant (@bbryantWSB) May 19, 2016
It looks like a parent just got here to pick up his child. JSO said he can go inside @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/WmbLSg6pd6
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) May 19, 2016
DCF just got to the home that was being run as an unlicensed daycare @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/fCee9dAp5G
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) May 19, 2016
JSO walking man to car after he walks out of unlicensed daycare with 2 kids @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/GJpmYhoPwj
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) May 19, 2016
8 children at this house where baby stopped breathing. Still waiting for more parents to pick up kids @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/TAlzMjy5O0
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) May 19, 2016
#BREAKING: Neighbor just told me a local Bishop lives in the home where a 5 month old baby died @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/aIOUWc6dK8
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) May 19, 2016
#BREAKING: neighbor tells me this is the woman who lives in home where baby found dead @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/4q4xbi30xY
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) May 19, 2016
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