SJPD Arrests Two Suspects in Daycare Drowning Deaths

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

On October 2, 2023, at approximately 9:05 AM, patrol Officers jointly responded with San José Fire Department to a welfare check at a residential day care located in the 1000 block of Fleetwood Drive. SJPD was notified that several juveniles had fallen into a pool. Medical personnel were summoned, and three juveniles were transported to local hospitals in critical status. Despite life saving efforts, two of the juveniles were pronounced deceased at the hospitals. The third juvenile’s status was later updated to non-life threatening.

Per county protocol for all child deaths, the SJPD Homicide Unit in conjunction with Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office began a joint investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Based on the preliminary investigation, Nina Fathizadeh and Shahin Gheblehshenas, the owners and operators of Happy Happy Daycare, were suspected of neglect of two children resulting in death, and neglect of a child resulting in non-life threatening injuries. 

Homicide Unit Detectives authored arrest warrants for the two suspects and on October 13, 2023 the suspects self surrendered at SJPD Headquarters. They were both booked and given an upcoming arraignment date. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Van Den Broeck #3829 or Detective Estantino #4339 of the San José Police Department’s Homicide Unit via email: 3829@sanjoseca.gov and/or 4339@sanjoseca.gov or at 408-277-5283

Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, or calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.