'We're Focused on Determining What Happened to this Child'
Hilliard Police Chief Michael Woods Comments on this Morning's Tragedy
Update:
Hilliard police on Sept. 22 filed felony charges against a 36-year-old woman and her 19-year-old daughter each in connection with the death of a newborn infant early Sept. 20 at a residence on the 4400 block of Paxton Drive South.
Each woman is charged with abuse of a corpse, a fifth-degree felony, but the investigation remains active and additional charges are possible, said Andrea Litchfield, a spokeswoman for the Hilliard Division of Police.
The charges levied Sept. 22 stem from an investigation that began after Norwich Township medics responded to an emergency call at 7:49 a.m. Sept. 20 at the Paxton Drive South residence.
After it was determined that the 36-year-old woman who was transported to a hospital had recently given birth, police returned to the residence at 8:51 a.m. and began searching the property, police said.
Police found the infant in a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer parked in the back yard of the residence.
Officers performed CPR on the male infant who was pronounced dead by Norwich Township medics and then transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
According to detectives investigating the case, the 36-year-old woman who birthed the baby boy directed her 19-year-old daughter to place the infant in a trash bag and dispose of it.
Multiples relatives were present at the residence when medics and police arrived while others arrived later, according to the report.
The Hilliard Division of Police this afternoon is investigating the death of an infant.
Hilliard police are actively investigating the cause of death of a newborn infant found Wednesday morning, September 20 in a vehicle in the backyard of a residence in the 4400 block of Paxton Drive South.
Norwich Township medics responded to an emergency call at 7:49 a.m. at the residence and transported a woman to the hospital.
After it was determined that the woman’s injury was related to giving birth, police returned to the residence at 8:51 a.m. and searched the property, Hilliard Police Chief Michael Woods said.
Finding the baby in a parked car located in the back yard of the property, officers immediately administered CPR and the child was transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where the infant was pronounced dead.
Many details remain yet unknown.
“We don’t know; that’s why we’re here,” Woods said and continued “everything is on the table.”
Woods extended empathy to the family, who are cooperating with the investigation, and offered support to his officers.
“It’s tough on (our officers, too). I’m proud of them.”
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the infant’s death, said Andrea Litchfield, a spokeswoman for Hilliard police.
“This is a heartbreaking situation and one of the worst calls to receive,” Hilliard Police Chief Michael Woods said.
“We’re focused on determining what happened to this child.”
(Police Chief Michael Woods briefs members of the media regarding the investigation)
The investigation is active. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 614- 876-7321.
https://hilliardohio.gov/police/