The Eyrie

BOYNTON BEACH, FL — A 3-year-old girl died days after becoming trapped in a kitchen playset at a home in Boynton Beach, according to police. Authorities said the child was found unresponsive last month while she and a sibling were being cared for at a babysitter’s house.

Boynton Beach police said the babysitter had left the residence and the children were with the babysitter’s spouse. The investigation is still open, and police have not filed charges.

Officials said the girl was taken to a hospital in critical condition before being pronounced dead on July 27. Police said the incident happened shortly before 11 a.m. and that first responders arrived after the spouse began life-saving measures.

Police say the child was in the care of the babysitter's spouse

According to Boynton Beach police, the toddler and her sibling were downstairs while the babysitter’s spouse remained upstairs and checked on them from time to time. The spouse also gave the children snacks during that period, police said in a statement.

Police said the spouse later went downstairs and found the 3-year-old with her head stuck in the kitchen playset. The child was not breathing when she was discovered, according to authorities.

The spouse removed the toddler from the playset and started emergency life-saving efforts before firefighters or paramedics arrived. Police have not said how long the child may have been trapped before she was found.

A Facebook Marketplace purchase is now part of the investigation

Police said the wooden kitchen playset had been bought on Facebook Marketplace a few years earlier. The department released a photo of the playset on Wednesday as part of its public update.

Authorities said the toy had no visible markings showing a brand, make or model. That detail has left investigators without an easy way to identify the product’s manufacturer.

The case has drawn attention because the playset was a common household-style item rather than a specialized piece of equipment. Even so, police have given no indication that they believe the purchase itself was unlawful or that the playset was modified.

First responders took the toddler to a hospital in critical condition

Police said first responders arrived shortly after 11 a.m. and found the child in critical condition. She was then transported to a local hospital, where she remained under care until she was later pronounced dead.

Boynton Beach police said the fatal outcome was confirmed in an update on Monday, several days after the July 27 death. The department has not released the child’s name.

Officials have also not announced the toddler’s cause or manner of death. Those findings have not yet been made public as investigators continue reviewing what happened inside the home.

Authorities have not said how long she was trapped

One of the unanswered questions in the case is how long the girl was stuck before she was discovered. Police said they have not released that timeline.

Investigators also have not said whether the sibling was involved in the incident beyond describing what happened before the child became trapped. Police said the sibling told them the child’s toys had fallen into the playset and that she became stuck while trying to retrieve them.

Because the investigation remains active, police have not said whether any additional interviews or evidence reviews are still underway. For now, they are treating the death as an open case with no charges filed.

The case adds to concerns about household play equipment safety

While police have not described the playset as defective, the tragedy underscores the risks that can come with large household toys and furniture designed for children. Anything with openings, enclosed spaces or moving parts can become dangerous if a child’s head or body becomes trapped.

Authorities have not issued a broader safety warning tied to this specific playset. Still, the release of the photo and the details of the incident suggest investigators want the public to understand exactly what object was involved.

For now, the department says only that the death remains under investigation and that it has not determined whether any criminal charges are warranted.