Bay Area Daycare Owners Charged After Toddler Drownings

Co-owner pleads guilty, faces over 20 years in prison for her role in the deaths of two 1-year-old girls at the unlicensed facility.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The co-owner of an unlicensed San Jose daycare, Nina Fathizadeh, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including child endangerment, following the 2023 drowning deaths of two 1-year-old girls at the facility. Her mother and co-owner, Shahin Gheblehshenas, maintains her innocence and is set to go to trial. The investigation found that the pool gate was left propped open, leading to the tragic incident.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of proper licensing, supervision, and safety protocols at daycare facilities to protect the well-being of young children. The tragedy has raised concerns about the oversight and regulation of home-based daycares, especially those operating without proper licenses.

The details

In October 2023, two toddlers, Payton Cobb and Lilian Hannan, managed to slip through a propped-open gate that separated a play area from a pool at the "Happy Happy Daycare" home facility. A third child was also found in the pool but survived. Gheblehshenas was at another unlicensed daycare, leaving Fathizadeh to supervise four children, and the investigation reported that Gheblehshenas's husband propped the pool gate open with a clothes rack and failed to close it.

  • In October 2023, the two toddlers drowned in the pool at the daycare facility.
  • Nina Fathizadeh is scheduled to be sentenced in May and faces more than 20 years in prison.
  • Shahin Gheblehshenas is set to go to trial for her role in the incident.

The players

Nina Fathizadeh

The co-owner of the unlicensed "Happy Happy Daycare" who has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including child endangerment, following the drowning deaths of two 1-year-old girls at the facility.

Shahin Gheblehshenas

The mother and co-owner of the "Happy Happy Daycare" who maintains her innocence and is set to go to trial for her role in the incident.

Payton Cobb

One of the 1-year-old girls who drowned at the unlicensed daycare facility.

Lilian Hannan

One of the 1-year-old girls who drowned at the unlicensed daycare facility.

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What they’re saying

“They trusted these people, they not only were responsible for these children, they were being paid for it.”

— Grandmother of Payton Cobb (ABC7 News)

What’s next

Nina Fathizadeh is scheduled to be sentenced in May, and Shahin Gheblehshenas is set to go to trial for her role in the incident.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the critical need for proper licensing, supervision, and safety protocols at daycare facilities to protect young children. The incident has raised concerns about the oversight and regulation of home-based daycares, especially those operating without proper licenses, and the importance of holding daycare owners accountable for the well-being of the children in their care.