On March 2, a 1-year-old little girl was found unresponsive at the home of her babysitter. The toddler was later identified as Vayda Vasquez, according to Michigan State Police, who did not identify the name of her caregiver at the time.
Vayda lived with her grandmother, Tonia Rose, who had been caring for Vayda since she was five months old. Rose works at night so she would often leave her granddaughter in the care of a babysitter while she was making a living, reports WZZM.
Grandmothers Distraught After Learning Their Granddaughter Was Found Unresponsive at Her Caregiver’s Home
At around 5:30 a.m. the morning Vayda passed away, paramedics arrived at the babysitter’s home after they had received several 911 calls about a child “not breathing” and “bloody.”
Rose reportedly found out about her granddaughter’s death through a friend, WZZM reports. “One of my friends had drove by her house and called me and said, ‘Something isn’t right.”
“There are a bunch of cops, you better get over there,'” Rose told Fox 17. “So [in] five minutes I was there, and that’s when I was informed Vayda was unresponsive, and [first responders] were unsuccessful in bringing her back.”
Rose had become Vayda’s caregiver in April 2019, according to CafeMom, after both of her parents struggled with substance abuse. Vayda’s mother is currently in prison, while her father as visitation rights at Rose’s discretion, reported Fox 17.
“I see her face every time I close my eyes. I can’t sleep. I just sit and hold her toys,” the griefing grandmother said. “Vayda was the most amazing baby I have ever known,” said Rose. “She was smart. She was soft and sensitive.”
In an interview with MLive, Vayda’s other grandmother, Shawnerie Russell, said the only thing she’s been told since her granddaughter’s passing is that she was “basically murdered.” It is important to note that the toddler’s babysitter has not been labeled as a suspect yet.
Michigan State Police have ruled Vayda’s death a homicide. However, details as to how the toddler died have not yet been released as the investigation is on-going.