Killeen Police Investigate Death of a One-Year-Old Child

For Immediate Release

July 13th, 2017

On Friday, May 12th, 2017, at approximately 1:02 p.m., Killeen Police Officers responded to the 5300 block of Sydney Harbour Ct. after receiving a call about a one-year-old child who was not breathing.  The caller advised that the child she was caring for had fallen asleep in his car seat and had been strangled by the safety strap.

Officers arrived and found the child unresponsive and not breathing. First responders performed CPR on the child and were able to resuscitate him. The child was then transported to Metroplex Hospital by ambulance.

Investigators learned that the caller was running an in-home, unlicensed daycare out of her residence. She stated she left the child sleeping in his car seat unattended.  She stated that she returned when she heard another child crying and found the victim unconscious and not breathing, with one of the safety straps around his neck.

The child succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at McLane Children’s Hospital in Temple.  He was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Don Engleking, who also ordered an autopsy.

An arrest has not been made in this case. Detectives have forwarded the case to the Bell County District Attorney’s Office for review.

More information will be released when it is available.

Cdr. Alex Gearhart
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department