2-Year-Old Dies At Daycare In South Suburbs; Family Sues For Negligence

CALUMET CITY, IL — The parents of a 2-year-old boy who died after suffering a seizure at a south suburban daycare are suing the business.

The family and their attorneys announced the lawsuit at a press conference published by FOX 32 on Thursday. Jaylin Branch Jr. — nicknamed “Baby J” — was alone for over 30 minutes at Grandma Jones Daycare in Calumet City when he died in his sleep Feb. 20, according to the family’s legal team.

The child had epilepsy, according to his mother, Jasmine Bailey, and his family had worked with the daycare to create an action plan, providing medication in case he had a seizure while in the business’s care, attorneys said.

“When we drop him off at that front door, at that point, you guys are in charge of his life,” his father, Jaylin Branch Sr., said at the press conference, alleging negligence. “It’s not only just about justice, it’s about prevention, to prevent something like this to happen again.”

The boy’s parents described him as bright and energetic, and said he loved to dance.

As of Thursday, the daycare in the 1800 block of Sibley Boulevard remained open, but the family is hoping the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services will investigate the business and shut it down if appropriate, according to attorney Evan Finneke of C. Norris Law Group.

In a statement published in full by WLS, the daycare said it was “deeply saddened” by the child’s death and that it would “respond accordingly through the legal process,” but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing legal matter.