Nursery worker says routine change led to fatal mistake – Portugal Resident

The nursery employee at the centre of the tragedy that claimed the life of an 18-month-old girl in Almada reportedly told police she forgot the child inside a vehicle after her usual work routine was unexpectedly changed.

According to reports in NOW, the woman, who has worked at Colégio Mestre Cuco for 26 years, broke down in tears while speaking to police and Polícia Judiciária (PJ) investigators.

“Crying uncontrollably” and visibly distressed, she allegedly told officers: “They changed my routine. I killed a baby because of that.”

The employee is said to have explained that, for several weeks, she had been following the same daily schedule when collecting, transporting and dropping off children between the nursery’s two sites. On the day of the tragedy, however, that routine was altered, she claimed.

Investigators believe she collected 18-month-old Sofia from her family home in Feijó at around 8.20am on Thursday (July 23) before inadvertently leaving the toddler inside the nursery’s Peugeot 5008 instead of taking her into the building.

The alarm was only raised shortly before 4pm, when Sofia’s mother arrived to collect her daughter and was told she had never arrived at the nursery. Staff immediately searched for the child before the same employee opened the parked vehicle, more than a kilometre away, and found the toddler unresponsive.

Sofia is believed to have remained inside the vehicle for more than seven hours in temperatures approaching 30C. Emergency crews from INEM and local firefighters attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The employee gave evidence to investigators until the early hours of Friday morning before returning home. She has not yet been formally named as a suspect (“arguida“), although Portuguese media report that this is expected as the investigation progresses.

The PJ police are awaiting the results of the autopsy, which will establish not only the precise cause of death but also the estimated time of death. Investigators will use that information to determine whether criminal responsibility rests solely with the employee or whether other individuals may also have contributed to the circumstances that led to the child’s death.

Portuguese media report that additional suspects remain a possibility as investigators examine whether wider failings in nursery procedures contributed to the tragedy. Negligent homicide carries a maximum prison sentence of five years.

Checklists could have saved toddler’s life, expert says

The case has also prompted renewed calls for stricter safeguards when transporting young children.

Speaking to CNN Portugal, former PJ inspector Gustavo Silva said childcare transport should always be governed by mandatory operating procedures, including visual inspections and checklists.

“Checklists may seem like bureaucracy, but they often prevent problems,” he said, arguing that safety systems should never depend on a single individual.

Psychologist Nídia Franco told CNN Portugal the tragedy highlighted the need for nurseries to introduce multiple verification systems to confirm children’s arrival and quickly alert parents if a child fails to reach their destination. She also called for greater attention to staff wellbeing, saying employers should be alert to signs of fatigue or emotional overload among employees responsible for children’s safety.

The PJ investigation is continuing.