A 3-year-old South Florida girl died July 27 after being discovered with her head stuck inside a toy kitchen play set at a babysitter’s Boynton Beach residence on July 23.
Officers from the Boynton Beach Police Department responded to a residence in the Meadows of Boynton Beach community shortly after 11 a.m. on July 23, where the babysitter had left the children in the care of her spouse, who stayed upstairs while the children played downstairs but was “periodically checking” on them and “giving them snacks,” police said.
When the spouse came downstairs to check on the children, the 3-year-old was stuck in the play set, having become trapped while trying to reach toys that had fallen inside.
When the babysitter’s husband saw this, he tried to help the child get out of the toy and called for emergency support while performing life-saving measures until help arrived.
The girl was not breathing when she was discovered by her babysitter’s spouse, and she was taken to an area hospital in critical condition but died on July 27.
The babysitter’s spouse freed the child, and when officers arrived they started CPR measures; members of Boynton Beach Fire Rescue then took the girl to an area hospital.
Police have not released the names of the children or the adults who were caring for them, and charges had not been filed as of Monday.
Boynton Beach Police Public Information Officer Chelsea Sanabia told CBS12 News the play kitchen was “an old wooden set that was bought off of Facebook Marketplace a few years ago,” adding investigators do not believe they know the make, model or brand.
Police have not publicly explained the medical mechanism that led to the child’s death, said how long she may have been trapped, identified the play kitchen involved or announced whether the case has been submitted for criminal review.
More than a week later, investigators have released only limited details about exactly what happened.
“I’ll speak with detectives and follow up with you,” Sanabia said, adding that “the investigation is active and ongoing, so the information we’re able to share publicly is limited at this time.”
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has identified toy kitchens as a potential hazard after investigating a prior child death linked to a play kitchen and has urged designers to address strangulation and entrapment risks; the agency also issues safety alerts that advise caregivers to follow age recommendations, remove small or hanging parts, and closely supervise young children during play.
In 2025, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled nearly 192,000 KidKraft “Farm to Table” wooden play kitchens after a 23-month-old Oregon boy died when his clothing became caught on a hook attached to the back of the play kitchen, creating a strangulation hazard.
Elyse Carhart, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue’s Community Education Supervisor, said “Supervision is going to be key, first and foremost,” adding that “it only takes seconds for a child to end up in danger.”
She encourages parents to make sure toys match a child’s age, keep small or complex toys away from younger children, and clearly communicate house rules to anyone caring for their kids.
Child-safety experts and first-aid organizations stress that quick action is critical in situations where a child is choking or not breathing, and they encourage caregivers to refresh infant and pediatric CPR skills on a regular basis; the American Heart Association offers infant and pediatric CPR training and family-focused materials for parents, babysitters and other caregivers.
In the viral moment drawing national attention, neighbors in the Meadows community began speaking out about the tragedy.
One neighbor told reporters, “Michelle lives a few houses away from where the incident happened. Heaviness on the whole street. And it’s never been like this. You know, it’s really sad. I haven’t seen too many of them since it happened.”
Meanwhile, Kathy Wall, director of Safe Kids, Palm Beach, had a message for all the parents: “Our kids are our greatest assets. They’re our future. And we have to be present for them day to day.”
The family, friends, and neighbors are grieving the loss of the child.
The investigation remains ongoing.