A daycare operator working out of her home in the Toronto-area has been charged with second-degree murder following the death of a 14-month-old girl.

Police initially received a 911 call on Wednesday about a baby girl who was in distress at a daycare in Mississauga, Peel Const. Adam Minnion told CTV Toronto.

The infant, identified as Duy-An Nguyen, was taken to a local hospital first. Doctors assessed her and then transferred her to a Toronto hospital because of the seriousness of her injuries, Minnion said.

Police initially arrested 35-year-old daycare operator April Luckese and charged her with aggravated assault however.

Following the child's death on Friday, a second-degree murder charge was laid.

Luckese, who ran April's Daycare out of her home, is set to appear before a judge for a bail hearing on Saturday.

Luckese has lived at the home with her husband and her two sons, according to Ontario childcare provider Kiddie Kare.

Luckese used to work with Kiddie Kare, but Luckese opted to run an unlicensed, private operation instead.

Kiddie Kare's Janice Luckese, who is a distant relative of April, said that she was "extremely surprised" by the allegations.

"There was nothing at all that would indicate that there would be any harm to a child in her care."

Janice Luckese added that the home daycare operation was a "beautiful" centre.

A website had described the Mississauga daycare as a "safe, loving and nurturing home environment." The site has since been taken down.