Indiana daycare shuts down after boy, 5, dies

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (WLS) -- A daycare center in Michigan City, Ind., has been shut down following the on-premises death of a 5-year old boy.

Police say the boy accidentally hanged himself at Tricia's Playhouse and Day Care while he was playing in the back yard and somehow got tangled in rope.

"At this time, they have been temporarily closed until the investigation is completed by our department and state officials," said Chief Mark Swistek of the Michigan City Police.

Investigators say at the time of the incident there were four children playing in the back yard and six more children were inside with two employees.

According to the LaPorte County coroner, a jump rope was draped over the top of a play fort, and the rope somehow got wrapped around the boy's neck. The coroner ruled he died from accidental asphyxiation.

In the meantime, multiple agencies are investigating the daycare center.

According to Indiana's Family and Social Services Administration, Tricia's Playhouse and Day Care was already on probation for failing to conduct background checks on two employees, failing to report suspected abuse and dealing with a child inappropriately.

Michigan City's chief of police says it's too soon to tell if the daycare employees will face charges, but says he would like to see steps taken to make sure there is better oversight of the city's daycares.

"We are hopeful that this was an accidental situation," said Swistek, "but as accidental as it may be, we need to get to the bottom to prevent future incidents from happening in other daycares across the city."

The owner of the daycare center has 30 days to appeal the temporary closing.