PLANTATION, Fla. — A death investigation is ongoing after a 1-year-old boy was found dead Monday inside a vehicle in Broward County, authorities said.
The police scene was located outside A World of Discovery Academy, at 7025 Northwest Fourth Street in Plantation.
According to Plantation police, first responders arrived after receiving reports about a deceased child inside a vehicle.
Upon arrival, Plantation Fire Department crews located the vehicle and pronounced the boy dead at the scene, authorities said.
According to investigators, the boy’s father was told that his son was marked absent and had never been dropped off at the daycare.
Police say the father then opened the back of his SUV and discovered his son inside.
Leslie Novoa, the owner of A World of Discovery Academy, told Local 10’s Jeff Derderian that the boy comes from “a very loving family.”
“It’s a devastating situation for the family. I guess for the parents who have their kids come to this school -- when they came and saw all of this, the officers, that would be really, like, concerning,” Viviana Alarcon, who works nearby, said.
A mother whose children are also enrolled at the daycare, and who asked not to be identified, told Derderian that the boy and his family are in her prayers.
“I’m sorry and can’t imagine the loss. It’s devastating,” the mother said. “You never want to lose a child, and I know it’ll be hard to come to terms with that.”
Authorities have not confirmed any additional information, including the circumstances that led to the child’s death or whether anyone would be facing charges.
“I never heard anything bad about that school,” Alarcon said. “It honestly has a good reputation.”
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
