Spring Valley Woman Running Unlicensed Daycare Arrested

On January 22, 2026, at approximately 4:39 p.m., the Spring Valley Police  Department responded to a report of an unresponsive infant at 18 White  Street. Officers arrived within minutes and encountered an adult female  holding an unresponsive six-month-old child. Lifesaving measures were  immediately initiated, and the child was transported to a local hospital,  where the child was later pronounced deceased.  

Eight additional children were located at the residence and appeared to be in  good health. Child Protective Services and the Rockland County Building  Department were notified and responded to the scene. The investigation  remained ongoing.  

An extensive investigation determined that 47-year-old Spring Valley  resident Maria L. Nava-Nava was operating an unlicensed daycare out of  her residence. Although there was no evidence that her actions directly  contributed to the child’s death, it was found that she moved several  children ranging from the ages of 2 years old to 8 years old into a garage  that had been converted into a room and left them unattended for a period of  time while the Spring Valley Police Department was on scene investigating  the incident.  

On February 18, 2026, Maria L. Nava-Nava was arrested and charged with  seven counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A  misdemeanor. Nava-Nava was arraigned in Spring Valley Justice Court  before the Honorable Judge Sweet and was released on her own recognizance.  

The Spring Valley Police Department is requesting that anyone with information related to this incident to contact the department at 845-356- 7400 or email tips@villagespringvalley.org.