A mother in Fayetteville is pressing prosecutors to bring more serious charges following the tragic death of her 1-year-old daughter at an unlicensed home day care.
Gigi Michelle James drowned in September after slipping into a fenced backyard pool at Mema’s Playhouse, a day care run out of the home of 51-year-old Melissa Ann Ortiz‑Fikes. Her mother, Ginger Calder, said she believed she was leaving her child in safe hands. Ortiz‑Fikes had told Calder she had a background in nursing and early childhood education — claims that were later called into question by a WRAL investigation, which found no evidence she ever held a nursing license.
Calder said she initially discovered Mema’s Playhouse online and was reassured by Ortiz‑Fikes during a “meet and greet,” noting her warm demeanor and comforting reassurances — even when Calder saw the pool in the backyard. She was told the pool was securely fenced.
Just one month later, Gigi slipped past the fence while under the care of the day care staff, allegedly as workers were distracted by other children. Authorities say she fell into the pool. She was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
In the weeks after the drowning, Ortiz‑Fikes reportedly continued operating the day care for three more days before it was shut down.
Nearly a month later, Fayetteville police arrested Ortiz‑Fikes. She faces three counts of providing child care without a license — a misdemeanor in North Carolina. Calder, however, argues that the charges do not match the gravity of the tragedy. She believes prosecutors should pursue more serious offenses, such as child neglect or even manslaughter. “They absolutely should,” she said.
Fayetteville police say detectives are “still actively working some areas” of the case, and have not yet announced whether additional charges will be filed.
Calder described her loss as indescribable, saying she carries the pain of her daughter’s death every moment.
Here’s more from WRAL:
