On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, a tragic incident occurred at a family shelter on Glenwood Road in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, operated by Women in Need (Win), the city’s largest provider of shelters for families with children experiencing homelessness. A 4-year-old boy was found unresponsive around 8 a.m. after suffering an apparent medical episode. The New York Police Department (NYPD) responded to a 911 call and, upon arrival, first responders, including Hatzalah volunteer medics, administered Narcan (naloxone), an overdose-reversal drug, suspecting possible fentanyl exposure. Despite these efforts, the boy was transported to Maimonides Medical Center in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead.
The boy’s parents, Miriam Elkayam, 26, and Yitzchok Sklar, 32, were taken into custody and questioned by police. Authorities reported that drug paraphernalia was recovered from the shelter room, and the father allegedly admitted to having fentanyl present. Sources indicate that after calling 911, the father removed a fanny pack containing drugs from the room and hid it in his car, though police later recovered it. On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the parents were arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court on charges of child abandonment and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Both were granted supervised release pending further investigation.
While initial suspicions pointed to fentanyl exposure—prompted by the child’s symptoms and the presence of drugs—preliminary examinations have introduced uncertainty about the exact cause of death. Some reports suggest a viral infection might have been a factor, but toxicology results are still pending to confirm whether fentanyl or another substance played a role. The NYPD, alongside a hazmat team, continued investigating the scene, which remained active for over 12 hours.
The shelter, part of Win’s network, allows husbands to visit during daytime hours despite being designated a women’s shelter. Win issued a statement expressing devastation over the child’s death and pledged cooperation with the NYPD, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining a safe environment. This incident follows other recent drug-related tragedies involving children in New York City, highlighting ongoing concerns about fentanyl’s presence in vulnerable communities. 17GEN4.com
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