Bronx Toddler Dies After Window Fall

Chayanne Polanco and Thessa Wilcox held a prayer vigil on Friday for their 2-year-old daughter, Julia, who died after falling from a fifth-story apartment in the Bronx. The toddler squeezed through a gap created by an in-window air conditioning unit and landed in a back alley just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday. She was transported to Harlem Hospital in critical condition and did not survive.

The parents stated they installed the air conditioning unit themselves. The building superintendent said the plastic accordion panels next to the unit were secured with tape, which Julia removed to access the opening. The Department of Health is investigating the incident and urged building owners to maintain proper window guards. The department also asked families to report any safety concerns regarding their windows.

Wilcox described Julia as a fiery and energetic soul who brightened every room. Polanco noted that Julia was their only child. He expressed the difficulty of daily tasks that no longer exist, such as changing diapers or giving her a bottle. He urged other parents to hold their children tight. The grandmother added that she called for help before the accident, but no one arrived.

The family reported that they requested window guards through the city’s 311 system but never received a response. Boyde Singletary, senior pastor at Alpha and Omega Church, criticized management companies for prioritizing rent over repairs. He stated that the family called 311 several times without an answer. City records from 311 and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development show no window guard complaints for the building between 2020 and the present.

In January, the Department of Health implemented new rules for window air conditioners. These rules require window guards or devices that limit the opening to 4.5 inches. CBS News New York contacted the landlord by phone and email on Friday to ask about their role in providing or requesting guards. The landlord did not respond. The family is now raising funds for funeral expenses and plans to transport Julia’s body to South Dakota for burial.

The vigil took place at the community gathering spot where residents remembered the toddler. Wilcox clutched a pink teddy bear during the service. The parents emphasized that they are Native American and wish to fulfill their daughter’s final resting place in their ancestral plot. The investigation into the specific circumstances of the fall remains ongoing as the department reviews the site.