Tacoma detectives are pressing forward with a homicide investigation after the Pierce County Medical Examiner ruled that a newborn who died in February suffered multiple sharp-force injuries. The infant was brought to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital on Feb. 10 and was pronounced dead there, according to authorities. Detectives say they have interviewed involved parties, but no arrests have been made as the case moves ahead.
According to The News Tribune, the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the child’s body and on April 23 determined that the cause of death was multiple sharp-force injuries. The office’s public information portal lists the decedent as “Nash, Male Infant” and records the age as 0 months, the outlet reports.
Police response and investigation
Sgt. John Correa told The News Tribune that detectives opened a death investigation after the hospital’s call and noted that “detectives get called out anytime there is a deceased infant in the city.” He said investigators conducted interviews early on, then waited for the medical examiner’s ruling before moving the case forward. With that ruling now on record, detectives are continuing follow-up work.
What the medical examiner does
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office maintains a public information portal that publishes limited case details, such as cause and manner of death, once family notification is complete, according to Pierce County. The office routinely takes custody of decedents to conduct autopsies and related investigations. The portal is meant to offer basic transparency while protecting sensitive family information as cases unfold.
Context: recent infant abuse cases in Pierce County
The ruling lands in the middle of other high-profile infant abuse cases in Pierce County this spring. In March, prosecutors charged two Lakewood parents after their 7-week-old son died at Mary Bridge from injuries investigators described as abusive head trauma, as reported by Law & Crime. Those prosecutions highlight how rare yet severe infant-death investigations can be in the region.
How to help
Tacoma police ask anyone with information about the February death to contact the department through the non-emergency line at (253) 287-4455 or to submit tips via South Sound 911, according to the City of Tacoma. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through local Crime Stoppers programs or to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office if they relate directly to case details.
