A quiet stretch of Chicago's Near West Side turned tragic Friday morning when a 3-month-old girl was found unresponsive inside a home and later pronounced dead, according to Chicago police.
Officers responded to the residence and the infant was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified her as 3-month-old Mynna Anderson. Police say autopsy results are still pending as detectives continue their investigation.
What Police Found On The Near West Side
Officers were dispatched to the 300 block of South Campbell Avenue shortly before 9 a.m., according to FOX 32 Chicago, which reports the infant was discovered inside the home and transported to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County. Area detectives are treating the case as a death investigation while they wait for the medical examiner's findings.
Inside The Medical Examiner's Work
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct a postmortem exam to determine the cause and manner of death. The office's Cook County Medical Examiner's Office 2023 annual report notes that it certified 75 infant deaths and performed 69 infant autopsies in 2023. Forensic pathologists prepare detailed autopsy reports and coordinate with law enforcement while toxicology and other testing are completed, the report states.
Infant Deaths In A Wider Public-Health Lens
Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sleep-related causes remain among the leading contributors to infant mortality. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported a SUID rate of about 0.8 per 1,000 live births in 2022. Public-health officials emphasize safe-sleep practices and stronger surveillance efforts to address disparities and help prevent similar tragedies, according to the IDPH analysis, which notes that state reporting changes in recent years aim to capture more complete data.
What Authorities Are Saying So Far
Police have not released additional information about the circumstances surrounding Mynna's death, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Investigators are expected to rely heavily on the medical examiner's findings before determining any next steps in the case.
