SAN JOSE – A pair of online fundraisers is underway for the parents of an 18-month-old girl who drowned at an in-home daycare earlier this month in San Jose.
Payton Cobb, of Hollister, died Oct. 2 after she and two other children ended up in a pool at Happy Happy Home Daycare. Another girl, 16-month-old San Jose resident Lillian Hanan, also died. A 2-year-old boy survived and is expected to recover.
The mother-daughter owners of the daycare, 64-year-old Shahin Gheblehshenas and 41-year-old Nina Fathizadeh, have been charged with three counts of felony child endangerment.
An investigation by the San Jose Police Department and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office determined that the children were left unsupervised in a rear patio play area, where a gate to a fence surrounding the pool was left propped open.
One of the fundraisers for Payton’s parents, Jacob and Anjel Cobb, described the 18-month-old child as a “beautiful, energetic, joyful, and very personable little girl.”
“She brightened every day for Jacob and Anjel,” said fundraiser organizer Jeanna LeFave.
As of Monday night, LeFave’s fundraiser had raised more than $25,000, well past its goal of $20,000.
The organizer of the second fundraiser, Erica Alcaine, thanked donors for their support.
“Your gift will assist the family in any way needed to honor Baby Payton’s memory,” she said.
Alcaine’s fundraiser had raised roughly $8,400 of its $10,000 goal as of Monday night.
Check back for updates.
Source: www.mercurynews.com