July 28, 2006

Investigators said a day-care owner with a criminal past might have moved the body of a boy who died in her care as part of a coverup.

Officials said they know that 4-year-old Jacob Fox died from heat exposure while on a field trip with the Dream House Learning Center, which was supervised by day-care owner Blynithia Washington, but they are not certain about where he died.

Jacob was found dead in a Balch Springs park, but investigators said the child might have died elsewhere, perhaps in the day-care van, and that Washington may have moved his body to the park to conceal how he really died.

Detectives are now searching for two people who they said may have helped her.

However, Washington insists that the child died at the park while she was running errands.

Amid the new developments, investigators said Washington has a criminal history and that she has used as many as eight different names.

"If someone is using a different identity or maybe even a stolen identity, it makes it very difficult to get an accurate background check," Child Protective Services worker Marissa Gonzalez said.

Before issuing Washington a day-care license, the state did a background check, but never found her convictions for assault and theft because officials said she used a different Social Security number and the name Blynithia McGilbra.

"Ms. McGilbra did surrender her permit, so Dream House will not be reopening … but we want to make sure we know who these people are for real," Gonzalez said.

Washington faces charges of endangering and abandoning a child.

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/9594919/detail.html

Emphasis added by H4K Editor