Lawsuit alleges day care worker was high while caring for baby who died in Kentucky

COVINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — The parents of a 4-month-old who died while under the care of a day care in Kentucky are suing, alleging negligence.

Officers were called to the Little Treehouse Learning Center in Covington just after 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 for reports of an unresponsive infant.

The Covington Police Department has not criminally charged the daycare or the worker who cared for the infant the day he died.

According to court documents, the parents of 4-month-old Luka Vancini, Sergio and Addison, alleged that workers didn’t have proper CPR training. The complaint also said parents were told the center had cameras, but they didn’t.

Luka was taken to a hospital, where medical records showed he was dead on arrival despite resuscitation attempts.

The complaint said tests showed Luka choked on his spit, cutting off oxygen to his brain.

“Plaintiffs’ child was not properly placed down for a nap and aspirated and ultimately choked. Defendants failed to provide aid, were not properly trained/supervised, all of which resulted in the baby passing,” reads the complaint.

The document goes on to list safety or building violations that the Office of Inspector General allegedly found in an inspection report from April 24, 2024.

“The extensive list of violations, is indicative of the actions giving rise to the Complaint herein, including but not limited, lack of staff training, CPR compliance, staff ratios/supervision and/or issues regarding infants, including cribs,” reads the complaint.

The lawsuit names the business and multiple care workers, including the woman who called 911.

An amended version of the complaint said one of the workers caring for Luke was stopped by police earlier that day and charged with alleged marijuana possession.

A citation from the Fort Thomas Police Department said the daycare worker who cared for the infant was pulled over on Feb. 7 at 8:33 a.m. for allegedly going 92 miles per hour in a 65-mile-per-hour zone.

“The officer detected the smell of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle and observed in plain sight the operator’s purse, a plastic package of THC gummies,” reads the citation.

The officer reportedly also saw small marijuana roaches in the ashtray.

The daycare worker allegedly admitted that the items belonged to her. The items were confiscated, and the worker was cited with speeding 26 miles per hour or over the speed limit and possession of marijuana and released from the scene, according to the citation.

FOX 56 News has reached out to Little Treehouse Learning Center’s legal team for comment.