A 2-month-old girl who was found unresponsive in a Riverwest home near North Booth and East Wright streets later died, Milwaukee police said. Despite life-saving efforts, the infant died around 5 a.m. on May 18. Police say the cause of death is under investigation and that they do not anticipate foul play.
Wisconsin’s Division of Safety and Permanence issued a public notification on May 21 saying "maltreatment is suspected" and naming the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services as the agency responsible for the case, according to the Division of Safety and Permanence. The notification carries case tracking number 260518DSP-Milw-1458 and indicates a practice review. WISN 12 News reported that Milwaukee police said the child was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at about 5 a.m. on May 18.
Local context: infant deaths remain a public-health concern
Infant deaths remain a persistent problem in Milwaukee, where local reviews show wide racial and neighborhood disparities in outcomes. The City of Milwaukee's Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) calls for coordinated prevention strategies that include safe-sleep education and broader policy work on housing and poverty. City of Milwaukee outlines those findings and recommendations.
What officials are doing now
Milwaukee police continue to investigate the circumstances of the infant’s death while child-welfare officials conduct a practice review, per the state’s public notification. The Division of Safety and Permanence’s notice lists a Division of Safety and Permanence practice review for the case, which is part of the agency’s review process after a child death or serious injury. Officials have not released additional details about the cause of death as of the latest reports.
Legal review
Because the state's notice indicates alleged maltreatment, the case may trigger both an internal child-welfare practice review and parallel law-enforcement inquiries. Any criminal charges would depend on what investigators and prosecutors determine from the evidence. At this stage, officials have not announced charges and have urged anyone with information to contact investigators.
We will update this story if the Milwaukee Police Department or the Division of Safety and Permanence issues further information. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Milwaukee police or the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services.
.jpg){kind=link}