A 44-year-old Tampa day care operator has been arrested in connection with the death of an infant. The five-month-old died six weeks ago.

Ms. Tina Toney Lark, 9503 Woodborough Court, is being held without bond at the Hillsborough County Jail. She is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child.

According to police, the parents of De’Arron Deshazier left him in the care of Ms. Lark at her home daycare on August 1st. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call shortly after 7 p.m., in reference to the child being unresponsive and not breathing. The infant was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Ms. Lark admitted to police that the child had been in her care from 6:50 a.m., that morning until police were called. She also said he was not ill and did not display any symptoms that would warrant the use of medication, police stated.

An autopsy was performed on the child the following day, but there was no suspicious circumstances or trauma to his body. The cause of death was undetermined, pending toxicology reports, police said.

On August 25th, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office contacted police with the preliminary toxicology results and indicated that there were levels of diphenhydramine in the child’s system. The medical examiner also stated that the drug was located in the victim’s heart, blood, liver, gastric contents, and spinal fluid. The medical examiner further stated that the drug was acute and would have been administered within 6 hours prior to the child’s death, police said.

Police executed a search warrant at Ms. Lark’s home on September 8th, and confiscated a package of 8 Sominex 25 mg. tablets with 2 missing. A baby’s pacifier was also in the basket with the medication on the table.

Police said no other medication was located in the home that contained diphenhydramine. They also said that Ms. Lark admitted that she takes over the counter sleep aids, police stated.