Mother of boy found dead in Dorchester releases statement

DORCHESTER, Mass. -- Officials were awaiting autopsy results, Wednesday, as they continued to investigate the death of a 17-month-old baby in Dorchester.

The family of the 17-month-old boy, who was discovered Monday afternoon in a school van in Dorchester, released a statement on Tuesday.

Virgnie Cazir released a statement about the death of her son, Gabriel Josh-Cazir Pierre:

"Our family is heartbroken over the loss of our beautiful son, Gabriel. Gabriel was a very happy child and his picture says everything."

Dorchester was in shock and a mother mourned the loss of her 17-month-old son on Tuesday, a day after the boy was found dead in a school van outside of a daycare center.

Police said the boy may have been left inside the van for hours before he was found.

The boy’s mother and the rest of the community are looking for answers as police continue to investigate the case. Officials said they are still waiting for autopsy results. Police said the mother of the baby had to identify her dead son on Tuesday.

Cazir, the boy’s mother, told 7News that she doesn’t know any more about what happened to son than what she has heard in the news media. Later on Tuesday she went with police to identify her son at the medical examiner’s officer.

Police said a boy was found dead in a school van parked outside a home daycare business on Floyd Street in Dorchester on Monday afternoon. Police said the boy may have been in the van, undetected for hours.

Authorities said the man driving the van was taken to the hospital for stress problems.

“He was a joy, just a joy,” said Myrthza Ladouceur, a family friend. “A bunch of smiles, he was so handsome. He was so cute. It was just all smiles when you saw him. He was…He lit up a room.”

The daycare center has been closed for permit violations. Outside of the daycare is a growing memorial for the boy.

A statement was released from the attorney representing Gloria Feliz, the daycare owner: "Gloria Feliz...wishes to express her deepest sorrow, her prayers and her profound apologies to the family of the toddler who died in a transportation bus on Floyd Street yesterday. Ms. Feliz, who has dedicated her life to caring for children, is devastated by the tragedy and is cooperating fully with all of the authorities investigating this matter."

If criminal charges are to be filed they will not be known anytime soon. A spokesperson for the Suffolk County DA’s office said it won’t happen until the autopsy results come back, which could take a few weeks.

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