A tragic incident has shaken the quiet Monterey County community of Royal Oaks, where a three-month-old infant died while being cared for at an unlicensed day care, according to a statement from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
Maria Marquez, 62, and her daughter Johanna Marquez, 35, both Royal Oaks residents, have been arrested. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office reported that they were booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges of involuntary manslaughter, felony child endangerment, and operating a child care facility without a license. The bail for each was set at $50,000.
On May 24, 2025, just before 10:30 a.m., deputies were dispatched to a home on the 100 block of Hillcrest Road in Royal Oaks after receiving reports of a medical emergency.
Firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the call, which involved an unconscious and unresponsive infant. Despite urgent life-saving efforts on the scene and at a nearby hospital, the child was pronounced dead, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators discovered that the home was being used as an unlicensed day care facility, allegedly caring for up to 30 children of various ages.
Detectives from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation and arrested two people suspected of running the illegal day care facility.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation,” the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office stated. They are urging anyone with more information about the case to call Detective Josue Ramirez at 831-253-6068. Tips can also be submitted anonymously online via the Sheriff’s Office website.