Investigation of Cahokia man turned over to state’s attorney after 5-month-old dies
A five-month-old baby girl died at an area hospital and as police continue to investigate what led to the child’s death.
Cahokia police Capt. Dennis Plew said Saturday a 20-year-old Cahokia man was being held in connection with what was believed to be a case of child abuse. The man was released over the weekend while the the baby girl remained in the intensive care unit of an area hospital.
With her death, the case has been turned over to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office. The investigation continues.
Police were called to Cityview subdivision in Cahokia on Friday at 1:39 a.m after an ambulance was dispatched to tend to a child who was not breathing, Plew said. The infant’s mother was present when the ambulance crew arrived, Plew said.
He would not say whether the person of interest was at the residence when police arrived or how they were led to him. Plew would not say what connection , if any, the man has to the infant or her family.
“The baby girl is five months old. She is in intensive care at an area hospital,” Plew said Saturday. Hospital officials alerted police that the child had suspicious injuries which led to the police investigation.
Cahokia police requested assistance from the St. Clair County Child Death Task force, Pew confirmed.
The Child Death Task Force consists of investigators from throughout the area who are trained in investigating child abuse and child deaths.
This story was originally published April 18, 2020 at 5:16 PM.
