× Infant’s death at unlicensed Fairfield daycare now ruled a homicide 
 
 FAIRFIELD — The death of an infant at an unlicensed Fairfield daycare center in March has been ruled a homicide, police say. 
 
 Deputy Police Chief Chris Lyddy confirmed that the 4-month old Shelton boy, who was found dead on March 22, died due to toxic levels of over-the-counter drugs in his system. The infant was first thought to have succumbed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), but extensive postmortem testing conducted over the months that followed revealed otherwise. 
 
 Medical inspectors working the case told Fairfield detectives in July that the baby had extremely high levels of diphenhydramine, or Benadryl, in his blood. 
 
 Now, police are investigating how the infant could have ingested such a heavy dose. To do so, they will need to determine whether the homicide was committed intentionally or accidentally due to negligence. 
 
 Police have not made any arrests or pressed any charges on employees who manage the daycare. 
 
 In addition to the death investigation, Fairfield Police said they will be pursuing criminal infractions against the makeshift daycare for operating out of a private home without a license. 
 
 Diphenhydramine, most commonly known as Benadryl, is an antihistamine meant to treat moderate to severe cold symptoms in adults. The FDA warns against administering the medication to infants under two-years-old without a doctor’s supervision, due to increased risk of overdosing. 
 
 For more information on the hazards of giving cough and cold medicine to infants, read this FDA disclaimer. 

 Death of 4-Month-Old Baby at Connecticut Daycare Caused by High Levels of Benadryl: Police 
 
 Toxicology tests on a 4-month-old boy whose March 22 death at an unlicensed home daycare in Connecticut was ruled a homicide show he died from high levels of Benadryl in his system, police say."It's a parent's worst nightmare and our hearts are broken for the parents of this young child," Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara tells PEOPLE. "We have an obligation to the parents to do a thorough investigation and determine who is responsible for this."Since the death of Adam Seagull, the home-based daycare has been shuttered by state officials, according to MacNamara, who says the child wasn't sick at the time of his death and his body showed no signs of trauma.MacNamara tells PEOPLE that while no charges have been filed yet, someone at some point will be held accountable for Adam's death."The consumption of the medication wasn't accidental," says MacNamara. "This baby was 4-months-old. Someone administered Benadryl to this child. I am not saying there was intent to kill the baby, but as a result of that Benadryl, this child died. We are working to determine who, when and why this baby was given these meds."MacNamara says Adam's death should serve as a cautionary tale for parents."This daycare center had been operating without the proper licensing," the chief says. "Without that licensing, there are no checks and balances. Without the proper training, you can't ensure a child's safety." 

 Shelton infant’s death being investigated as a homicide by Fairfield Police 
 
 FAIRFIELD - What was originally believed to be a case of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is now being investigated as a homicide. 
 
 The infant, Adam Gregory Vasaturo Seagull, was called "little prince," "tootie muffin," and "little man" by his family. 
 
 “His infectious smile brought immediate joy to everyone who had the privilege of experiencing it,” his obituary read. “As he would look at you with his beautiful brown eyes, your heart became bigger and fuller with love.” 
 
 Deputy Police Chief Chris Lyddy confirmed Saturday the death of the 4-month old Shelton boy in March at an unlicensed home day care has been ruled a homicide. According to the state medical examiner, toxicology reports showed high levels of Benadryl in the infant’s system. 
 
 “The investigator is being extremely diligent and to date, we have not been able to rule out anybody,” Lyddy said. The unlicensed day care was run by Carol Cardillo at her home at 63 Edgewood Road and had been in operation for 11 years, Lyddy said. 
 
 A lawyer representing Adam’s parents, Matthew and Michelle, confirmed that the family is aware that the case is being investigated as a homicide. The lawyer, along with Adam’s grandfather, Lewis Seagull, said that they were not ready to comment on the development in the case. 
 
 The police announcement comes just days after the death of Stamford 2-month-old girl was also ruled a homicide. That child was rushed to the hospital from an East Side day care facility with severe head trauma. 
 
 Neighbors of Cardillo, the woman who ran the day care where Adam was found dead on March 22, were surprised to learn that the case was being investigated as a homicide. 
 
 Dimitri Gregorio, 19, was away at college in March when Adam died but heard the news through text messages from his mother, including images of first responders lining the normally quiet and uncluttered Edgewood Road. He has watched children coming to and from for years. 
 
 “The family is very nice, the mother, the grandmother—they’re very nice,” he said. 
 
 Cardillo did not return requests for comment by phone and at her home. A relative confirmed that she still resides there. 
 
 “She was so sad,” said Cliff, a neighbor of Cardill’s who asked that his last name not be used, of Cardillo’s reaction after the accident. “(Intentional wrongdoing) is last thing that I would expect; it’s a wonderful family.” 
 
 Police were called to the home March 22 just after 3 p.m., when Cardillo dialed 911 to report an unresponsive infant. According to Lyddy, Deputy Police Chief, Cardillo told police the baby had been given a bottle around noon and then put down in a play crib for a nap. 
 
 When she went to check on the baby around 2:55 p.m., she could not wake him up. 
 
 There were seven other children being cared for at the time, five toddlers and two other infants. There were four adults in the home at the time, according to the report. 
 
 “The baby had not been sick, and there were no signs of trauma,” Lyddy said, which led to the belief that SIDS was the cause of death. However, due to the fact that the death was untimely, the infant’s body was sent to the state medical examiner’s office for an autopsy. 
 
 The autopsy concluded the baby died from acute diphenhydramine intoxication. Lyddy said Cardillo has denied administering Benadryl to the baby. 
 
 The day care center has been closed since the incident, and any charges regarding the operation of an unlicensed day care center would likely come from state authorities, Lyddy said. 
 
 As for criminal charges in the baby’s death, Lyddy said, “It is very much an active investigation.” 
 
 He said it is possible that it could be determined the Benadryl overdose was accidental, “but certainly, negligence would be a factor in administering a lethal dose of anything to an infant” and could still result in criminal charges. 
 
 “It’s very important that parents check into day care facilities,” Lyddy said. “There are several ways to check if a center is licensed. The easiest is call 211, and you would be provided with a list of licensed day care facilities in your area.” 
 
 He said parents should also check to make sure a facility has the proper child to staff ratio and that caregivers are properly trained in first aid, including CPR.
– The death of a 4-month-old Connecticut boy in March has been ruled a homicide after "toxic levels" of Benadryl were found in his system, Fox 61 reports. According to the Fairfield Citizen, Carol Cardillo, who runs a home daycare, gave Adam Seagull a bottle, then put him down for a nap March 22. She called 911 three hours later when she couldn't wake the baby. It was revealed following Adam's death that Cardillo had been running the daycare without a license for 11 years. Adam had no apparent signs of trauma and hadn't been sick when he died, leading investigators to originally believe he died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, People reports. But a toxicology report found elevated levels of Benadryl in Adam's system. The FDA warns against giving the medication to children under 2 years old as there is a high risk of overdose. Fairfield police chief Gary MacNamara calls Adam's death a "parent's worst nightmare." No charges have been filed, but MacNamara says that will change. "The consumption of the medication wasn't accidental," MacNamara tells People. “I am not saying there was intent to kill the baby, but as a result of that Benadryl, this child died.” Police are trying to figure out who gave Adam Benadryl and why. Cardillo's daycare has been shut down. (Last month, a babysitter was charged with murder after an infant was killed with a dose of Benadryl.)