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Boynton Beach toy kitchen death
A 3-year-old girl, identified by her family as Briella Holmes, died after her head became stuck in a wooden kitchen play set at a babysitter’s home in the Meadows of Boynton Beach community in Boynton Beach, Florida.
“Briella Holmes”
Boynton Beach Police said officers were dispatched just after 11 a.m. on July 23 after a report that the child was “unresponsive and not breathing,” and Boynton Beach Fire Rescue transported her to a local hospital in critical condition.
Police said the babysitter left the residence and left the children in the care of the babysitter’s spouse, who remained upstairs while the children played downstairs and periodically checked on them and brought them snacks.
Investigators said the toddler’s sibling told them toys had fallen inside the kitchen play set when they tried to retrieve them, and the spouse found Briella with her head stuck in the play set during one of the checks.
Police later said Briella died four days after she was found, and the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office told the Daily Mail the death was caused by “probable positional asphyxia” and classified it as an accident.
Investigation limits and questions
Boynton Beach Police released a photograph of the playset and said the wooden kitchen has no identifying markings indicating its brand, make or model.
WPEC asked police whether detectives had determined the child’s preliminary cause of death, whether the play kitchen has been identified or remains in evidence, whether the Consumer Product Safety Commission has been contacted, and whether the case has been submitted to the State Attorney's Office for review.
Police said “This investigation remains active and ongoing,” and the Boynton Beach Police Department “will not be making any additional statements at this time.”
ABC News reported that the investigation remains ongoing and that no charges have been filed at this time, citing a police department spokesperson.
ABC News also said authorities did not say how long the child is believed to have been stuck, and the name of the toddler and her cause and manner of death also have not been released.
Family fundraising and next steps
After Briella’s death on July 27, her family created a GoFundMe that described the loss as “On July 27, our hearts were shattered by the unexpected loss of our beloved Briella following a tragic accident.”
“On July 27, our hearts were shattered”
USA TODAY reported that as of Aug. 5, the GoFundMe had received over $76,000 in donations, after the police said on July 23 that charges had not been filed and the investigation was ongoing.
The Palm Beach Post reported that as of Aug. 5, more than $76,000 had been raised, and it identified the child as Briella Holmes in connection with the GoFundMe.
The Palm Beach Post also said replica sets are sold online under the name, “Country Living Kitchen,” while police said the playset involved in the case has no identifying markings indicating its brand, make, or model.
Police said the playset was purchased secondhand through Facebook Marketplace, and investigators told CBS affiliate WPEC they did not know the make, model or brand at the time.
