A daycare operator in California is now facing legal action following the tragic death of a five-month-old infant under her care earlier this month.
The incident, detailed by CBS News, unfolded at Cherished Years Daycare located in Manteca on October 22. Emergency services were called to the daycare for an unresponsive baby, later identified as Christian Olvera.
Despite efforts to save him, Christian succumbed to his condition on October 24 at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland. While investigators have found no signs of physical trauma, they are awaiting autopsy results to uncover the cause of death.
During the initial response, officers discovered that the daycare owner, Roxanne Helus, was under the influence of alcohol, leading to her arrest on serious charges, including felony child endangerment and causing the death of a child under eight.
Manteca police Sergeant Steven Beermann noted, “Upon arrival, officers spoke with the daycare owner and determined she was intoxicated. It was confirmed she was above the legal limit.”
The daycare, a licensed home-based facility on Merlin Lane, regularly cared for Christian during weekdays.
On the day in question, four adults and three children were inside the daycare. The other children were found unharmed.
“Our family got a call that Christian had stopped breathing and was being taken to a local hospital,” Christian’s aunt, Erica Valdivia, told ABC 10. “At that time, there weren’t very many details disclosed to the family.”
According to state records obtained by ABC 10, there have been no formal complaints filed against the daycare. However, Helus’ previously daycare had four complaints filed. Two of those claims were justified.
A 2023 complaint indicated that Helus had been running an unlicensed daycare. A complaint in 2024 stated that she allowed other adults to care for the children, KORA reports. Both claims were substantiated.
The California Department of Social Services is now conducting an investigation.
The Manteca Police Department said that additional charges could follow, pending the autopsy results.
“These are unfortunate, very complex cases,” Beermann said. “And so the way this starts is it kind of starts backwards. You can’t determine that any wrongdoing was done until an autopsy determines that.”
Helus has since made bail and released from jail.
Anyone with additional information on the case is urged to contact Manteca police at 209-456-8101.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Handout]
