Chelsea mother charged in death of 3-year-old son
CHELSEA - A Chelsea mother has been charged in the sudden death of her 3-year-old son.
Jennifer Prudencio, 25 has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment of a child.
The Suffolk County District Attorney's office said 3-year-old Yael Guardado-Prudencio was found dead his inside his mom's Chelsea apartment Sunday morning.
The community honored the child with a memorial of balloons and a teddy bear outside his home.
"Very sad to see a little kid just die and seeing him a couple of days ago, that's all you can do is pray to God," said neighbor Osmond Lima.
The large presence of first responders and frantic yelling is what concerned neighbors in the quiet building.
"Her lady friend was crying down here with the daughter she has, and I asked her what happened, and she said the kid was dead in bed," said neighbor Reimond who's known the family for four years.
Soon the incomprehensible word went around that the little toddler who was the youngest of three siblings had died.
"She was handling three kids by herself, and I think it's a little tough for her you're a single mother with three kids you know," added Reimond.
More details to be released at arraignment
Detectives haven't said how the toddler died or what happened in the moments leading up to his death. But neighbors are left wondering why the woman who was supposed to protect him, is being charged.
"It's very hard for her because that's her little kid," said Lima. "But as an adult we have to take our responsibilities."
Prudencio is expected to be arraigned in Chelsea District Court on Wednesday. The DA's office says a lot more details are expected to be released at the time.
"The death of someone so young is a tragedy beyond words. My heart goes out to all who knew and loved this young boy, and to the police and emergency services personnel who responded to the scene that sad morning," Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said.
