#Charges deferred for man arrested after delaying COVID treatment for toddler

The Bronx District Attorney is holding off on pursuing charges for a Bronx man who was arrested after he took three hours to get medical help for a dying, COVID-19-infected three-year-old.

Police had initially charged Anthony Richardson, 59, with endangering the welfare of a child after he turned up at a Queens hospital Thursday evening with toddler Jaylynn Evans, who he had been taking care of.

Jaylynn was unconscious upon her arrival at the hospital and was soon pronounced dead by doctors there.

The Bronx DA’s office declined to say why his prosecution was being deferred — only that he would remain uncharged pending a further investigation.

Richardson, a family acquaintance who was supervising as Jaylynn had a playdate at his Bronx apartment with his own young daughter, had been captured on surveillance footage leaving the building with the stricken, seemingly unconscious girl in his arms at around 2 p.m.

He did not call 911 and did not reach Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Glen Oaks, Queens until around 5 p.m., sources said, even though the hospital was roughly 30 minutes away.

Richardson stopped at a bodega on the way, law enforcement sources said, but it was unclear what else may have happened to delay his trip.

Richardson, a friend of Jaylynn’s grandmother, picked up the girl Wednesday afternoon to take her to his home to play with his own daughter, Jaylynn’s family told The Post.

“This poor girl didn’t have a chance, everyone failed her,” said a Bronx police officer.

Richardson, who sources say is on parole for robbery, gave no explanation for the apparent delay and declined to speak to cops further on the advice of counsel.