Family identifies Miami toddler who died of pneumococcal meningitis

22-month-old Connor Mincey died Dec. 3

MIAMI – A South Florida family identified a boy who died Dec. 3 after being diagnosed with meningitis as Connor Mincey.

The Mincey family's attorney told Local 10 News that the family is asking for privacy and will hold a news conference later this week regarding the death of the 22-month-old boy.

Health officials confirmed that a 22-month-old boy died Dec. 3 of pneumococcal meningitis.

Connor had attended the YWCA Carol Glassman Donaldson Child Care Center, at 112 NW Third St. in Miami, since July, according to a GoFundMe page set up by his family to help with funeral expenses.

Health officials said a second boy, a 2-year-old who attended the day care, died about a week later, but the cause of death has not been determined.

"They don't know if the cases are connected or if there's any connection to the day care themselves," said Jose Galan, an assistant director with Miami-Dade County, which owns the building. 

According to the GoFundMe page, Connor was born five weeks early because of an accident, but he survived and was an "exceptionally healthy boy."

The GoFundMe page stated that Connor was placed in day care in July and began to get "colds and common illnesses associated with being in day care for the first time."

Relatives said he was taken to a doctor after he most recently got sick and he eventually returned to school with a doctor's note.

However, Connor came down with a fever on Nov. 25 and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital after children's Tylenol failed to reduce the fever, the GoFundMe page stated.

"(Connor) was sent home after a routine exam with the instructions to continue with the Tylenol and liquids. However, his condition worsened and he was taken back several times over the course of the next four days until he was admitted to Nicklaus Children's Hospital on Wednesday morning," the GoFundMe page stated. "He was placed on life support by that evening. After a team of doctors worked on him for several hours, he was diagnosed with meningitis."

The GoFundMe page stated that Connor was eventually declared brain dead and was taken off life support Dec. 3.

The Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Children and Families inspected the day care Wednesday. The center agreed not to reopen until it had been cleared by those agencies.

"These are our babies," YWCA CEO Kerry-Ann Royes said. "We've been doing this work with the county for over 20 years. We take it very personally and very seriously."


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.