Police have released an image of the toy kitchen set linked to the suffocation death of a three-year-old girl, issuing an urgent warning to parents after discovering similar playsets remain available for purchase online.
Briella Holmes died on the morning of July 23 after her head became trapped inside the toy while she was at a babysitter’s home in the Meadows of Boynton Beach community in Florida.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that the child’s death was ruled an “accident,” with the cause listed as “probable positional asphyxia.”
Boynton Beach Police have now shared a photo of the playset involved in the rare and tragic incident, saying it had been bought through Facebook Marketplace.
“The kitchen play set involved in the three-year-old’s death has no identifying markings indicating its brand, make, or model,” the department told the Daily Mail on Wednesday.
“However, similar Country Living Kitchen replica sets are currently sold online for approximately $100.”
The child-sized wooden kitchen includes a small two-door cupboard, a pretend stovetop and faucets positioned beside a sink opening. It is decorated with painted flowers, pots and pans, stacked logs and rooster-style kitchen tile designs.
Briella became trapped in the playset that morning while at the babysitter’s house, after she had been left in the living room with her older preschool-age brother, Brock.
Briella Holmes, three, suffered a freak accident involving a toy kitchen set and died of suffocation after becoming stuck, a medical examiner has told the Daily Mail
The kitchen play set involved in the suffocation death of a three-year-old girl has been pictured by cops, as they warn parents that the toy is still for sale online. The toy is shown above
Boynton Beach Police said the children were being supervised by a nanny, who left them in her spouse’s care as she headed out.
‘During this time, the spouse remained upstairs as the children played downstairs, periodically checking on the children and giving them snacks,’ the department said.
‘The spouse came down to check on the children and located the three-year-old with their head stuck in a kitchen play set.’
‘The spouse removed the child and immediately began performing life-saving measures until first responders arrived,’ they continued.
‘The toddler’s sibling advised that the child’s toys had fallen into the kitchen play set when they attempted to retrieve the toys and became stuck.’
Officers were dispatched to the home just after 11am, with a caller telling them the child was ‘unresponsive and not breathing.’
‘Upon arrival, officers located the toddler and immediately began life-saving measures,’ police said.
Boynton Beach Fire Rescue also arrived on scene and transported the child to a local hospital in critical condition.
Briella passed away on July 27 after the incident which unfolded four days before at a babysitter’s house in Meadows of Boynton Beach. She is pictured with her brother, Brock
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Briella’s heartbroken parents, Suzi and Jason Holmes, remembered her as ‘pure joy in a tiny, stubborn, independent little package’ in a tribute sent to the Daily Mail
Tragically, Briella died four days later on July 27.
Police are investigating the child’s death. No charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
Briella’s heartbroken mother, Suzi Holmes, 42, said that she and her husband Jason were too traumatized to speak about the death of their youngest child.
‘We are devastated, and we just can’t talk now. We are just trying to get through each day,’ she told the Daily Mail on Tuesday.
Suzi and Jason Holmes remembered Briella as ‘pure joy in a tiny, stubborn, independent little package’ in a tribute shared with the Daily Mail.
‘She loved to sing, about everything and nothing, and if you spent even a few minutes with her, you knew it right away,’ they said.
The parents added that Briella was ‘kind from the very beginning’ of her short life and ‘the kind of kid who lit up a room without even trying.’
‘She adored her big brother, Brock, with her whole heart,’ they said. ‘Briella, you were, and always will be, one of our life’s little miracles.’
The medical examiner told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that the child’s manner of death was an ‘accident’ caused by ‘probable positional asphyxia.’ Briella is pictured with her brother
Briella died after getting her head stuck in a kitchen playset while being cared for by a babysitter in Meadows of Boynton Beach, Florida, pictured above
The family has also launched a fundraiser to cover Briella’s funeral and memorial expenses.
‘Thank you for your love, support, and generosity as we honor Briella’s life and cherish the memories she gave us,’ they wrote on the page.
Kathy Wall, president of Safe Kids Palm Beach County, gave a warning to parents and caregivers in light of the incident.
‘Our kids are our greatest assets, they’re our future, and we have to be present for them, day to day,’ she said.
‘We have to have active supervision in keeping them safe.’
