Baby (Foster child) left alone for 9 hours dies of suffocation

Baby left alone for 9 hours dies of suffocation - Peoria, IL - pjstar.com

PEORIA —
A 9-month-old Peoria child in foster care died Friday from asphyxiation after apparently being left alone for about nine hours. The death is under investigation, but no arrests have been made.

Branden J. Burkhardt of 714 E. Kansas St. was pronounced dead about 10 p.m. in the emergency room at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, according to Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll.

The boy was living with foster parents Deandrea and Roshanda Washington. The biological mother, who was not identified Saturday, lives in Iowa. It was not clear why the boy was in foster care.

The baby had been living with the Washington family since two days after his birth, Ingersoll said.

Roshanda Washington told authorities she put Burkhardt into a crib about noon on Friday. He was alone in the crib, though there was a pillow, a toy and possibly a bottle.

Burkhardt was making noises about 3 p.m., his foster mother told police. But she didn't go into the room until about 9:30 p.m., when she found him unresponsive.

The results of an autopsy Saturday were consistent with asphyxia, Ingersoll said. She added that additional testing will be performed to confirm the child did not have an underlying medical condition.

Deandrea and Roshanda Washington had not been arrested as of Saturday night, though they had been questioned by police.

Ingersoll's office and the Peoria Police Department are investigating the circumstances.



Patrick Oldendorf can be reached at 686-3194 or poldendorf@pjstar.com.