St. Petersburg Police detectives have arrested Desiree Rentz, 31, in connection with the death of a nine-month-old boy who was in her care in July, 2024. Rentz faces charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and misrepresentation of a childcare license resulting in death.
The investigation began on July 25, 2024, when officers responded to an apartment at 5628 Lynn Lake Drive S., The Reserve at Lake Pointe Apartments, at 1:46 p.m. for a report of an unresponsive baby. The nine-month-old, identified as Timothy David Smith, would not wake up from a nap.
Unlicensed Daycare and Improper Medication
Detectives learned that on the day of Timothy’s death, Rentz was operating a daycare out of her one-bedroom apartment, caring for more than a dozen children. A key part of the investigation revealed that Rentz had allegedly lied to parents, claiming to be a licensed daycare operator. Both the Florida Department of Health and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) confirmed that Rentz never held a daycare license. The licenses she displayed were for temporary foster care with a capacity for only one child.
The Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and determined that the baby had been given cough syrup not recommended for children under the age of four. This was done without the knowledge or consent of Timothy’s parents.
Rentz was taken into custody with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service. The investigation is ongoing.
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