JAMES CITY COUNTY — A James City County resident pleaded guilty to charges related to the August 2022 death of a 4-month-old infant at her unlicensed private childcare center.
According to James City County Police Department, on July 18, 59-year-old Kimberly Henretty entered a guilty plea for abuse and neglect of children and operating an unlicensed daycare. A cruelty and abuse to children charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
On Aug. 9, 2022, police and EMS personnel responded to the 5000 block of Thomas Court in James City County, where a 4-month-old infant was in cardiac arrest while in the care of a private childcare center operated by Henretty, police said. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. The Norfolk Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined the infant’s cause of death as Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS).
It was discovered that 10 children, all under five years of age, were being cared for by Henretty at the time. An investigation in collaboration with James City County Child Protective Services and the Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Child Care Health and Safety discovered Henretty was not licensed to operate the private childcare center out of her residence.
Henretty was charged in April with abuse and neglect of children, cruelty and injury to children, and operating a daycare program without a license. Henretty turned herself in to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail on April 17.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 18.
