Following the death of a 3-month-old infant, a Monterey County mother and daughter have been arrested for allegedly running an unlicensed daycare out of their residence.

As KPIX reports, on Saturday at around 10:30 a.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call reporting that a baby was unconscious and not breathing at a residence on the 100 block of Hillcrest Road in Watsonville. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures before transporting the child to a nearby hospital, where the infant was pronounced dead.

According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the home was functioning as an unlicensed daycare facility. Deputies found that up to 30 children of various ages were being cared for at a time, as reported by SFGate. Investigators say there was sufficient evidence to arrest the two operators—62-year-old Maria Cleotilde Marquez and her daughter, 35-year-old Johanna Marquez—on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. According to KSBW in Monterey, authorities believe the two contributed to the child’s death, although the exact cause and circumstances remain under investigation.

Both women were taken into custody on Saturday and booked into the Monterey County Jail. They face multiple charges including involuntary manslaughter, felony child abuse and endangerment, and operating a child care facility without a license. Bail for each has been set at $50,000.

The case has sparked concern over unregulated child care operations. The sheriff’s office is continuing its investigation and urges anyone with relevant information to contact Detective Josue Ramirez at 831-253-6068.

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