GPD, CPS looking into baby girl's death

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The passing of a 14-month-old girl over the weekend has raised suspicions about whether her death could have been prevented. Local police and Child Protective Services are conducting interviews to get to the bottom of how the toddler died.

The Guam Police Department's Criminal Investigation Section is conducting the death investigation into the passing of a the baby, who died Saturday afternoon at Naval Hospital. GPD Spokesperson Officer A.j. Balajadia says medics were called to a home in Mangilao around one o'clock to a report of a baby not breathing.  Medics transported the toddler to the Agana Heights medical facility, where she died several hours later.

Said Balajadia, "Anytime that CPS is requested by hospitals, whether it's Naval Hospital, Public Health or GMH, doctors and nurses are mandated by law to report any type of incidents that look suspicious in nature it's just not common for a 14-month-old to pass away.  So CPS was notified and in turn CPS contacted us."

Child Protective Services Human Services Administrator Lydia Tenorio confirms the agency is conducting an inquiry into the toddler's death. While she couldn't speak to the specifics of this particular case, Tenorio explains how CPS intervenes in cases like these. "If it involves other children and the fact the cause of death is unknown; we are contracted, we get involved by ensuring safety and protection of other children, so we have to assess the factors related to that and the environment related to that," she said.

Tenorio confirms the toddler's other siblings were removed from the Mangilao home until their investigation and the one being conducted by police are completed. "It also involves our own intervention by questioning and meeting with the family and children but most of anything our involvement is to ensure the safety and protection of the existing children in the home. And decide from there what needs to happen," she added.

Medical Examiner Dr. Aurelio Espinola confirms he conducted an autopsy on Monday but he has not made a conclusive determination of how the baby died as he is currently waiting on microscopic test results to determine if the baby was ill before she passed away.