The immigrant owner of the Bronx daycare where a 1-year-old died of fentanyl poisoning last week reportedly tricked her ex-husband into a green card marriage to allow her entry into the United States.
According to reports, 36-year-old Grei Mendez De Ventura, who was arrested last Tuesday, was able to move from the Dominican Republic to the Big Apple thanks to an agreement reached nine years ago with a man who, according to her relatives, she met through a mutual friend had gotten to know.
Speaking to the New York Post on Friday, they claimed that Mendez De Ventura – then just Mendez – married their lover under false pretenses before turning away and living a lavish life before they divorced just two years later .
During that period, the man’s sister alleged, Mendez gave De Ventura “a very false impression” of her true intentions with her brother before remarrying and opening the daycare with her new husband – who is still a police officer is sought.
Police said this week he was likely the “ringleader” of the undercover drug operation uncovered last Tuesday at the Kingsbridge facility where one-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici died days earlier after inhaling traces of the deadly drug.
According to reports, 36-year-old Grei Mendez De Ventura, who was arrested last Tuesday, was able to move from the Dominican Republic to the Big Apple thanks to the agreement she made with a man nine years ago. Relatives said she met her through a mutual friend
During that time, the man’s sister claimed in an interview, Mendez gave De Ventura “a very false impression” of her true intentions with her brother, before remarrying and with her new husband, who is still wanted by police the daycare center opened
Police said this week he was likely the “ringleader” of the undercover drug operation uncovered last Tuesday at the Kingsbridge facility where one-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici (seen here) died days earlier after finding traces of the deadly drug had inhaled
In the Post report, the father of Mendez De Ventura’s first husband, Bronx resident Juan Ventura, called the murder suspect “a very, very bad person” – while asking not to be named.
Other family members, including Ventura’s sister, who was also unnamed, complained that the woman – now facing federal murder charges – allegedly deceived her brother with marriage plans before leading a life that consisted mostly of clubbing and hookah .
Speaking to the newspaper, she claimed that Mendez De Ventura had put her family “through hell”.
“She gave my brother the completely wrong impression that she wanted to get married, so he brought her from the DR to the wedding,” she said.
“But when she got here, all she wanted to do was smoke hookah [and] drink a lot.
“My brother, he’s not like that,” she told the newspaper from the family’s home in Fort George.
“She wasn’t interested in marrying him, she just wanted to come to America,” she further claimed, explaining that the couple initially met through an unnamed third party.
“She didn’t seem interested in my brother at all when she came to America.”
After a few years of this sordid arrangement – in which Mendez De Ventura reportedly only visited the family home twice – she said: “[the couple] She ended up getting divorced because the whole thing was so terrible.’
“She wasn’t interested in getting to know her husband’s family,” she explained.
“He never wanted to be out and all she wanted to do was go to clubs and be promiscuous.”
The man’s father expressed similar sentiments to the newspaper, claiming that even from his limited interactions with the suspect he could tell that she was “a very, very bad person” who was not suitable for his son.
The father referred to the party behavior already described by his daughter and remarked: “My son, who has an education, is not into any of that.”
After the couple “thankfully” divorced after a few years, the Ventura family cut ties with the Dominican national, according to the Post report – and said they had only heard her name last week about the horror was reported on September 15th in the Divino Nino Daycare first appeared.
Speaking to the New York Post on Friday, relatives recalled how Mendez De Ventura – seen here being led out of the 52nd Precinct after her arrest – married her lover under false pretenses before embarking on a life of debauchery dedicated divorce just years later
The father of Mendez De Ventura’s first husband, Juan Ventura of the Bronx, called the murder suspect “a very, very bad person.” Other family members, such as Ventura’s unnamed sister, complained that the woman cheated on her brother before leading a dissolute life
After the couple “thankfully” divorced after a few years, the Ventura family cut ties with the Dominican national, according to the Post report – and said they had only heard her name last week, when reports of the horror occurred September 15th Divino Nino Daycare showed up
Days earlier, drugs were found at a Bronx daycare center where a 1-year-old boy died of fentanyl poisoning last week – under a hidden trapdoor near where the babies regularly lay down to sleep
The discovery comes five days after police exposed Divino Nino Daycare in Kingsbridge as a secret drug factory after a one-year-old inhaled the deadly opioid. It was not clear what substances other than fentanyl were uncovered during Wednesday’s bust
Previously, police officers discovered that a kilogram of fentanyl was hidden on play mats at a Bronx daycare center, which led to the death of a 1-year-old boy
De Ventura, 36, and her alleged accomplice Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, were hit with federal charges. Prosecutors later alleged that De Ventura and her husband’s cousin — who rented the ground-floor apartment — “used the front of the daycare to conceal the unassuming facility’s true intent”: the mass production of fentanyl, it was later revealed Sell profit.
Speaking to the Post, the family said they were outraged not only by the senseless circumstances of the case, but also by the name of Mendez De Ventura’s facility – a reference to Jesus Christ.
Revelation: Ventura was in counseling because of all the damage [Mendez De Ventura] “I did something to him,” his sister said. The family finds the name offensive and an insult to the name of the deceased victim.
“We find it offensive that the actual place is called Divino Nino because that is the baby Jesus and we really believe in the baby Jesus,” she said
“And when a child dies there, that’s really triggering for me.”
The newspaper was unable to obtain comment from Ventura, who the family said has since remarried and has a son of his own.
The interview comes just days after local police and federal investigators discovered a stash of drugs hidden in the facility, as well as several pill presses and a brick of fentanyl stored in secret compartments just feet from where the children laid their heads.
Police said they found enough high-potency fentanyl to kill 500,000 people.
The NYPD shared a statement Thursday afternoon that included photos of the secret hideout as both Mendez De Ventura and her accomplice – her husband’s 41-year-old cousin, who rents the ground floor of the Morris Avenue apartment the daycare center is located – potentially facing life sentences in court for their alleged involvement in the scheme.
The statement revealed that police made the discovery after their initial search of the facility following the deaths and three hospitalizations.
“A search warrant was executed by @NYPDDetectives as part of an ongoing investigation into overdose deaths at a Bronx daycare on 9/15/23,” the department tweeted.
“A large amount of fentanyl, other narcotics and drug paraphernalia were found in a trap floor in the play area of the daycare.”
Police did not say what other types of illegal items were discovered in the raid, but photos show several bags full of powdered substances, some of which look distinctly different from a package of fentanyl seized days earlier.
That discovery included a kilogram-sized brick containing fentanyl found on children’s play mats earlier in the week, as well as a “kilo press” used to operate the secret drug mill, one related federal complaint The ongoing case alleges.
Prosecutors later alleged that De Ventura and her husband’s cousin “used the daycare’s façade to conceal the unassuming facility’s true intent” – to mass produce fentanyl to later sell for profit.
The complaint also alleges that the drug duo cut up the drugs to squeeze them near the area where the children sleep, likely leading to unforeseen overdoses.
Just 2 milligrams of the substance – which looks similar to 10 to 15 grains of table salt – is considered fatal.
Pictured: Nicholas Feliz-Dominici, 1, died Friday after taking fentanyl at a Bronx daycare center
A “kilo press,” typically used to recompress medications into powder form, was discovered, and two additional presses were found at the daycare center
Law enforcement sources believe the basement beneath the daycare where Brito lived was actually a drug bust
Sources familiar with the incident – which has drawn national attention – told publications including the New York Post and PIX11 that De Ventura was reportedly on the sidelines as her cohort cut off opioids before her alleged plan collapsed on Friday, when some particles became airborne. It is believed that the four teenagers inhaled air.
Feds allege that Mendez called her husband, who is still wanted by police, twice that day before calling 911 to report the overdoses.
The court documents also alleged she deleted more than 21,000 text messages from an encrypted phone app as police traced her location.
The federal complaint says authorities found a kilogram block of fentanyl in the same room where the children were.
“There, despite the daily presence of children, including infants, the defendants maintained large quantities of fentanyl, including one kilogram of fentanyl stored on children’s play mats,” according to an affidavit filed by Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Kyle Harrell, was signed.
According to police, Brito’s room, which he rented for $200 a week, contained equipment consistent with a large-scale drug operation.
A “kilo press,” typically used to recompress medications into powder form, was discovered, and two additional presses were found at the daycare center.
They are “commonly used by drug dealers in ‘mills’ or other locations where drugs are broken down, combined with fillers or other drugs, and portioned for sale,” the affidavit states.
On Friday, shortly after the death was announced, a small memorial was placed at the door of a daycare center in the Bronx
“There, despite the daily presence of children, including infants, the defendants maintained large quantities of fentanyl, including one kilogram of fentanyl stored on children’s play mats,” according to an affidavit signed by a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration
The pair were initially arrested Sunday evening on state charges including murder, manslaughter and assault and were held without bail
Investigators said they also recovered video of the husband and others fleeing the daycare with bags of unknown contents in the initial confusion.
On Friday, before police arrived at the Morris Avenue apartment, De Ventura had called several people, including her husband, before calling 911 to get help for the children.
Investigators said they also recovered video of the husband and others fleeing the daycare with bags of unknown contents in the initial confusion.
De Ventura and Brito stored large quantities of fentanyl “despite the daily presence of children, including infants,” the criminal complaint states.
The pair were initially arrested Sunday evening on state charges including murder, manslaughter and assault and were held without bail.
But they are now in federal custody and face life in prison if convicted.
Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a news conference Tuesday that the case had “shocked the conscience of the city.”
A third suspect is still being sought. Police have launched a manhunt for De Ventura’s husband, who is believed to be the “ringleader” of the drug operation, officials said.
De Ventura’s attorney claimed she didn’t know Brito was storing drugs at her daycare.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences to the child’s grieving parents Saturday as the case continues to draw national attention
The child’s parents, Otoniel Samboy and Zoila Dominici Sena, are seen here in a photo from their social media. They have since started a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help with a funeral
She opened the Bronx daycare earlier this year and passed a surprise inspection on Sept. 6.
Divino Nino Daycare was registered with the city’s Department of Children and Family Services because it was considered a home-based business.
Records show the daycare center is registered to care for up to eight children aged between 6 weeks and 12 years.
Feliz Dominici’s grieving parents Zoila Dominici and Otoniel Feliz said the daycare was recommended by Kingsbridge Heights Community Center.
The heartbroken couple, who are parents to four other children, were trying to come to terms with the unexpected and tragic death of their youngest child.
The boy’s grieving mother told CBS News in Spanish: “Look at what happened.” “If I had known, I wouldn’t have taken him.”
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny said Monday that police discovered “a kilogram of fentanyl in an area used to provide sleeping accommodation for the children.”
He further explained that the fentanyl was “under a mat where children had previously slept.”
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Damian Williams spoke when the new federal charges were announced Monday
Frank A. Tarentino III (pictured), special agent in charge of the New York State Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, spoke at a news conference Monday about fentanyl and the babies exposed to the deadly chemical at a Bronx daycare center
According to Kenny, “One grain, two grains of fentanyl can kill an adult man, while in a small child the residue itself would cause death.”
According to reports, there have been no complaints against Divino Nino Daycare so far.
However, some neighbors had concerns about what was going on behind the apartment doors. A longtime neighbor said she never saw any children, either upon arrival or departure.
“For a year it was a daycare center with no children. For a year she had a daycare with no children, but people went in. But no babies?,” she told the New York Post.
She also revealed that De Ventura would not allow her own child to stay in the apartment where other children were being cared for.
“A daycare center with no children and men going in and out.” Yes, we knew something. We knew something wasn’t right there.’
“We all said, ‘Drogas.’ ‘How could you not know?’
She claimed that De Ventura’s daycare became more crowded two months ago when she began having some children, including a baby two months ago, and then two more children a few weeks before the tragedy.
Mayor Eric Adams on Saturday expressed his condolences to the child’s grieving parents as the case continues to draw national attention.