On January 22, 2026, at approximately 4:39 p.m., the Spring Valley Police Department responded to a report of an unresponsive infant at 18 White Street. Officers arrived within minutes and encountered an adult female holding an unresponsive six-month-old child. Lifesaving measures were immediately initiated, and the child was transported to a local hospital, where the child was later pronounced deceased.

Eight additional children were located at the residence and appeared to be in good health. Child Protective Services and the Rockland County Building Department were notified and responded to the scene. The investigation remained ongoing.

An extensive investigation determined that 47-year-old Spring Valley resident Maria L. Nava-Nava was operating an unlicensed daycare out of her residence. Although there was no evidence that her actions directly contributed to the child’s death, it was found that she moved several children ranging from the ages of 2 years old to 8 years old into a garage that had been converted into a room and left them unattended for a period of time while the Spring Valley Police Department was on scene investigating the incident.

On February 18, 2026, Maria L. Nava-Nava was arrested and charged with seven counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor. Nava-Nava was arraigned in Spring Valley Justice Court before the Honorable Judge Sweet and was released on her own recognizance.

The Spring Valley Police Department is requesting that anyone with information related to this incident to contact the department at 845-356-7400 or email [email protected].