A grieving mother is demanding accountability after her 2-year-old son, Saunti Reynolds, died from choking on a meatball at the YWCA daycare center in New Britain on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
The tragedy is now under investigation by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), according to NBC Connecticut.
Shamyra Cooke, who is pregnant and works at a hospital, says she dropped Saunti off at 8:55 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Less than three hours later, she received a phone call from the daycare’s director, informing her that Saunti had choked but was “okay”—a statement that didn’t prepare her for what she would see upon arrival.
“When I got there, people were crying, people were running around, and my son was on the floor being intubated,” Cooke said during a tearful news conference. “He wasn’t breathing. They said he was breathing, but I knew when they closed the door and pulled down the blinds that something was terribly wrong.”
Emergency Timeline Raises Questions
The city’s dispatch center received a 911 call at 11:44 a.m. about a child choking. Police, fire, and EMS responded to the YWCA facility shortly thereafter. Cooke said she was not notified immediately, despite living just three minutes away.
“Even if they didn’t know how to do the Heimlich, I work in a hospital. I could’ve done it,” she said. “They let 15 minutes go by before anyone got him to a hospital. I could’ve saved him if they just gave me the chance.”
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said the official cause of death is pending further studies.
YWCA Responds Amid Outcry
In a public statement, YWCA New Britain confirmed that a child was transported to the hospital and later died, adding, “YWCA New Britain grieves this immeasurable loss… there are no words to fully express the sorrow we feel.”
They stated that staff followed emergency protocols, including age-appropriate first aid and prompt notification of emergency services. However, Cooke disputes their claim that the family was kept informed throughout.
“For them to say they talked to me the whole process through is a slap in the face,” she said.
Facility History Under Scrutiny
Public records reveal the YWCA facility has a documented history of violations. During its most recent inspection in October, it was ordered to submit a corrective action plan addressing blocked exits and unsafe cribs. Past citations also include improper supervision and an incident where a staff member reportedly restrained a child during nap time.
While those cases were closed following state-mandated corrections, Cooke and her legal team say this latest tragedy raises serious questions about whether oversight and improvements were sufficient.
Legal and Regulatory Investigations Underway
The state Department of Children and Families confirmed it has opened an investigation and is working alongside the Office of Early Childhood and law enforcement. DCF stated that confidentiality laws limit the amount of information it can publicly disclose.
Attorneys representing Cooke announced that a full independent investigation is underway. They said they will pursue all avenues to understand what happened in the critical moments leading up to Saunti’s death—and whether his life could have been saved.
A Mother’s Grief
“I just came back from a family vacation. It was his first time at the beach. He touched the sand for the first time,” Cooke recalled. “Two days into daycare, and he’s gone.”
Visibly shaken, she said she hasn’t been able to bring herself to return to the facility to collect his belongings:
“He passed away in front of his cubby. I can’t even go back to get his bookbag. I’ll see him laying there.”
Cooke, a U.S. veteran, expressed that she feels she failed the one person she was meant to protect.
“All they had to do was give me a chance to get to him,” she said.
Community Response
The YWCA remained closed on Wednesday and Thursday, and said grief counselors are being made available to staff and children. They also reiterated their cooperation with law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
“We are all so deeply saddened by this loss,” the organization said in its statement. “We ask for privacy and respect as we mourn together.”
Meanwhile, Cooke is left to cope with an unimaginable loss—and to fight for accountability.
“I don’t even want to shower because his scent is on my skin,” she said, clutching her son’s shirt during the news conference. “I just want him back.”
Attribution: Reporting based on information obtained and originally published by NBC Connecticut.
