Police ID boy drowned in baptismal pool at north side church

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A 1-year-old boy wandered into a baptismal pool and drowned at a north side church Wednesday, police said.

Police and rescue crews were called to Praise Fellowship Assembly at 6700 N. Michigan Road at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday. Emergency medical workers found the boy unresponsive, and rushed him to St. Vincent Hospital in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said when employees realized the boy, later identified as Juan Cardenas, 1, was missing, they found him in the water and called for help. He was found in about two feet of standing water. Investigators are trying to piece together the events that led to the child's death.

His absence was noted after a therapist arrived to work with him but could not find him, IMPD said.

IMPD said the investigation is ongoing. No one has been arrested at this point, and foul play is not suspected.

The church runs a day care for 30 to 45 children of varying ages, IMPD said, supervised by eight employees. Wednesday, 24-Hour News 8 was told, there were about 20 children at the day care, which a background check showed has not been cited for any major violations, but did have a long list of minor violations.

• ONLINE EXTRA | Check inspection results for your child's day care

Some parents said Wednesday afternoon that they had no clue what happened inside the church until we informed them.

"I had no idea what happened. Everyone was crying in there. I just wanted to get in and get my son," said parent Gina Letizia.

The church voluntarily closed its day care service for the rest of the week.