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Police investigating infant’s death

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By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer Updated 6:47 PM Thursday, January 26, 2012

MIDDLETOWN — Police are investigating the death of an infant who died at a Middletown home nearly two weeks ago.

The 11-month-old girl, who would have celebrated her birthday on Jan. 20, died on Jan. 14.

“At the time we thought the little girl had choked to death on a hot dog,” said Middletown police Lt. Scott Reeve. “It appeared to be just a terrible tragedy.”

But Reeve said after the Butler County Coroner’s Office examined the girl’s body, “they became suspicious and the cause of death is not choking.”

Andy Willis, Butler County Coroner’s investigator, said they are waiting on toxicology and pathology tests to determine exactly what happened to the baby and rule on a cause of death.

“Right now we just don’t know,” Willis said.

Reeve said police were called at 11:19 a.m. Jan. 14 to a home on Shartle Street. He said the baby was in her crib and appeared to have vomited sometime while she was sleeping.

Butler County Children’s Services Director Jeff Centers said they are working with the Middletown Division of Police to figure out what exactly happened.

“As it stands right now, it doesn’t quite add up,” he said. “What we’re doing is looking at the situation, looking at the family history — who might have been in the home. Right now, I don’t think anybody has a clear idea of what happened.”

Centers said Children’s Services has an open case involving the family. It was opened in September, but Centers declined to say what prompted Children’s Services involvement due to the police investigation.

“They had some other issues going on in the home,” he said.

The child’s 27-year-old mother has five children and the infant was one of three living with her, Reeve said. Each of the other two children live with their fathers, he said.

Until the coroner’s report is completed, Reeve said he did not want to speculate on what happened.

Tests results of the child’s autopsy are expected to take three weeks to complete, Willis said.

Staff Writer Lauren Pack contributed to this report.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or michael.pitman@coxinc.com.

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