When Saunti Reynolds’ mother dropped him off at day care on July 29, 2025, she never imagined it would be their final goodbye. But Shamyra Cooke received a call a few hours later that changed her life forever. Saunti choked while eating meatballs at the YMCA in New Britain, Connecticut. Staff reportedly told Cooke her son was OK but encouraged her to come as soon as she could. But when she arrived, Cooke found out the truth.
According to WFSB, when Cooke walked in, she saw first responders performing CPR on her toddler. She has since addressed the press at a news conference, sharing her story through tears.
“Everyone was freaking out, everyone was crying, everyone was running around, and they were already doing CPR on my son,” Cooke said. “When they closed the door on me, once the EMS closed the door on me, I already knew. I work at a hospital, I know how this goes.”
The grieving mother wants to hold on to every memory of her baby.
“I don’t even want to take a shower ’cause I got his scent on my skin. I’m scared to take my clothes off because I got his last smell on them,” she said. “I wouldn’t wish this on nobody, and my son was only in day care three hours, and he was gone.”
Cooke said she hasn’t retrieved Saunti’s things from day care because it’s too hard for her.
“He passed away in front of his cubby. I can’t even go back to get his bookbag because I can’t do it,” she said.
The YWCA shared a statement following Saunti’s death, expressing sadness over the community’s loss.
“There are no words to fully express the sorrow we feel, and we extend our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the child’s parents, family, and loved ones. We are holding them close in our hearts during this unimaginably painful time,” Doreen Chudoba , the director of fundraising and communication with YWCA, shared in a statement obtained by News 8.
New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart shared her condolences with the family on X.
Cooke said she wants answers and hired an attorney to help.
“All we got was a ‘sorry’ from the director, and now I have to bury my 2-year-old son,” Cooke said.
Cooke created a GoFundMe to help with Saunti’s final expenses.
“My family and I are looking to lay our precious baby boy to rest,” she wrote. “He was taken away from us at 2 years old in the hands of the YWCA in New Britain, CT.”
Per WSFB, the Department of Children and Families is investigating Saunti’s death.
