St. Clair County coroner, state police investigate hanging death of Brooklyn 9-year-old
Brooklyn Police and Illinois State Police are investigating the apparent hanging death of a 9-year-old boy.
Police Chief Thomas Jeffery confirmed the investigation late Thursday morning.
“Preliminary information indicates that he appears to have hanged himself, but the investigation is just beginning,” Jeffery said.
The chief also confirmed that the St. Clair County Child Death Task Force is assisting.
St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. say the child lived in the 500 block of South Seventh Street in Brooklyn.
“The boy was found in his bedroom and was pronounced dead at 8:35 a.m. Thursday,” Dye said.
The child’s name is being withheld because of his age.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicides among those age 10 to 24 increased nationally by 56 percent between 2007 and 2017, making suicide the second leading cause of death in that age group.
St. Clair County Mental Health Board recommends anyone who is considering suicide to call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 11:16 AM.
