ORANGE PARK, Fla. – After the death of a 4-month-old girl found unresponsive in the home of a Clay County corrections deputy's home on Wednesday, the Clay County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched an investigation.
The cause of Braelyn Hamilton's death has not been determined.
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The baby's father said he was devastated, but said he couldn't talk about anything because the baby's death was under investigation.
According to an incident report, Clay County deputies responded to the Orange Park home of Danielle and Steven Mosley at 12:23 p.m. Wednesday. The child was taken to a hospital, where she died "despite everyone's best efforts to save her."
Steven Mosley, 42, is a corrections deputy at the Clay County Jail.
Mary Justino, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office, said Danielle Mosley was watching the infant when she found the baby unconscious. Steven Mosley performed CPR until rescue crews arrived.
Neither the girl's father nor investigators would say if Braelyn was related to the Mosley family.
News4Jax learned that the Mosley family was investigated by the DCF last month after a neighbor reported the family was running an unlicensed day care at their Longwood Street home. DCF said information initially provided by the homeowner was inaccurate and the the agency served a cease-and-desist order.
Steven Mosley told investigators that the neighbor who made the complaint had a number of issues with him and his family over the years. He said she has reported the family to DCF several times.
DCF did release a statement on the incident saying:
"The department has opened a death investigation and is looking into the circumstances surrounding this tragic case (including any allegations regarding a daycare). The department has had no prior contact with this child. Death investigations are posted on our child fatality website upon completion. Additional information is confidential at this time."
Karina Hayes, who lives across the street and runs a licensed home day care, said she had noticed children coming and going from the Mosley home but had no idea what was going on.
Jose Echevarria, who moved into the neighborhood this week, said he saw first responders trying to save the infant.
"I saw them pull out a baby. It was in the palm of his hand. He ran out. He rushed her to the ambulance and they rushed the baby out," Echevarria said.
Clay County officials wouldn't talk about the death investigation, but said their deputy was still employed.
"Just because a police officer is involved, he is not going to get any special treatment or anything like that," News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said. "Because people will be reviewing it above their level just to make sure that it was done properly."