By SHERRI KOLADE
Times-Herald Newspapers
Two infant deaths on the same day in Dearborn and Allen Park have sparked investigations.
Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said on the morning of Jan. 15, a mother who slept with her 1-month-old twin daughters suffocated one of them.
“It doesn’t appear to be foul play,” Haddad said. “Upon completion of our investigation, the file will be sent to a special Wayne County Prosecutor who reviews every infant death in the county for final disposition.”
Haddad said the death happened between 8 a.m. and “mid-morning.”
“We are not going to say anything (more) about it (because of) protocol for investigating baby deaths,” Haddad said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean there was foul play. We don’t know that.”
Haddad said after a preliminary review, the Dearborn death “seemed accidental at the worst, unless (the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office) figured out some natural death cause.”
Haddad did not release the general location of the Dearborn infant’s death because of privacy reasons.
“Preliminary findings are that this appears to be a tragic accident,” Haddad said.
According to a published report, a girl in Allen Park died from suffocation on Jan. 15, when her mother fell asleep with her and accidentally suffocated her; the child’s death is under investigation.
Wayne County spokeswoman Sarah Bazzi said both autopsy results are still pending.
“If this was like a homicide (the results) could be done the next day,” Bazzi said. “But if it is a younger person or baby, the results would vary. It is not a clear-cut case. It is hard to stick to any specific timeline.”
Allen Park Police Det. Jeff Miller and Allen Park Fire Chief Douglas LaFond did not return calls by press time.
(Sherri Kolade can be reached at [email protected])